Before leaving the beautiful little historic Winchester, I went on a morning run. I meandered through the streets, gawking at the beauty of the old construction.
A statue of a young George Washington marked the spot by the still standing office where he worked as a surveyor. What hallowed grounds! The very turf that George Washington had trod beneath my feet!
I could almost hear the voices of our country's founders swirling in the quiet morning, almost see them gathered on the steps of the welcoming Inns as they discussed their vision of a country founded on freedom and inalienable rights, bestowed upon us by a gracious God.
Only one thought marred the joy of my run. I had strapped my favorite baseball cap to my backpack, and hurried in to the hotel the night before with my backpack on my back. In my haste, the hat must have slipped out of the cross straps and was gone. I know it was
only a hat, but it was not
only a hat. It said "Life is Good" and had a horse head on it. I had bought it years ago for Asherel, but since she rarely wore it, I had inherited it. I loved its cheery yellow color and happy message, but now it was gone.
Still, I told myself not to store my treasures where moth and dust corrupt, and don't lose the joy of now for the regrets of yesterday. I trotted happily around the lovely old town, and then a little reluctantly, returned to the hotel, packed, and glanced sadly at the empty backpack cross straps. How had that hat fallen out? I had so carefully laced it in. Sigh.
I returned to the car, unlocked it, and loaded my suitcases in the back. Gazing about me at the lovely town, I opened the front door. There, wedged between the two front seats, as though carefully placed, was my yellow hat with the horse head and the little message, "Life is Good."
I stood stock-still, staring at the hat. There was no earthly way that hat could be there. The back pack had been in the back seat, and I had lashed that yellow hat on it myself. I had pulled the backpack out of the back myself. There was no way the yellow hat could be between the front seats, yet there it was.
I bowed my head and briefly thanked God. I thought about how often life is
not good, and how often we are filled with doubt and despair. I thought of how little "coincidences" often go unnoticed as the hand of a loving God moving inexplicably in the lives of mice and men.
This morning, I awoke with a voice speaking almost as though someone were standing over me, "Be your best. It is all you can be." Yes. A comforting thought, particularly when God Himself was handing me my hat.
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You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is
fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face,
Lord, do I seek.”
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