Divine Coincidence

Isn't it amazing how God somehow knows what you need to hear and somehow arranges for you to hear it?

Lately I have been the victim of what appears to be a state of Maryland unemployment system witch hunt which has tied up my unemployment insurance into the indefinite future. The result is that I have exactly six dollars and a few pennies from my piggy bank, to my name. This means that I am late in my rent and may be evicted, have no money to pay the phone bill, (how are people going to respond to my resumes?), can't get to this little one morning a week job that I have, teaching music to little elementary school children, and have no money for food. (If I say the little job is one morning a week the unemployment people will try to verify that I am not lying when I reported less income because, in fact, it isn't every week because of school holidays, etc.) They are driving me crazy and may produce a homeless person....literally.

In any case, the Friday afternoon midday prayer from the New Zealand Prayerbook starts off with Psalm 119: 105-112."The powerful oppress me without cause, but my heart stands firm in awe of your word."  

It struck me instantly, that what is being said here is that while the powerful are oppressing me without cause,  more importantly, no oppression should make me waiver in my commitment to God's word to love God and love one another.

Instead of praying that my oppressors simply resolve this issue quickly and to my favor, I should be praying that the individual responsible for this feel a true happiness and joy in his life. I don't know what makes him take over three weeks to resolve something that should take a few hours. I don't know why he should choose to tie up my income for an indefinite period. But I would be willing to bet his response would have been different if he were truly happy in the deep and profound way that all of God's children deserve to be happy.

Anyone that uncaring about the consequences of his actions, cannot be happy. Perhaps, others are involved too. Perhaps other people in the unemployment system are pressuring him as well. Perhaps his boss should be prayed for. Perhaps those bureaucrats and politicians who feel no compassion, should be prayed for also. If their hearts are changed by God's love then then their whole beings will be changed toward the path of beauty and love. We don't need to pray for the ultimate consequences. Love with take care of that.

How wonderful would that be?