Yesterday morning, the lake was like a glass mirror. It was smooth and calm. There was no wind; the sun was shining, and the surface was still. Today, it was wild and reckless. The waves were slashing all about. The wind was fast and furious, and it wasn’t very nice at all.

The change was remarkable and unwarned. Just like life can be. One day you are sailing away on smooth seas and suddenly, the wind comes up and blows you off course. Or vice versa, your world can be upside down one minute and peaceful the next.

There is one constant in this scenario – God. Can you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you in the wind and in the calm? Sometimes that voice comes in the sound of a human voice. Like the way my sister Pauline provided a conduit for me when we were traveling last weekend.

Here’s what happened: We had just had a pleasant lunch with my son in Washington, DC and were making our way north out of the city. It had been smooth sailing to this point. No traffic jams, no accidents, no storms. Now, I will tell you that I dislike driving through DC for lots of reasons, but mostly because there is never a good time to pass through unless it is the middle of the night.

As it turned out, Saturday noon wasn’t a good time. I listened to the GPS tell me that there was a traffic jam ahead and it offered me an alternative route. I never take these suggestions because they generally just get you lost and confused. But Saturday I did, and I paid the price for the wrong decision. I was shuttled way off our route onto local roads and worse traffic than on the interstate. I was fuming and it showed.

Pauline calmly took out her phone and began to read me the funniest clean jokes that I had heard in a very long time. I hadn’t asked her to make me feel better. I hadn’t asked God for help. She hadn’t told me to relax and ignore what was going on around me. She just made me laugh.

My mood changed and the world was right again. I believe that was the grace of God acting in the person of my sister. Sending me unrequested help at a time of need. More proof that God loves everyone unconditionally! And has a grand sense of humor.

Terri

Here’s one of her jokes: What do you get when you cross a dyslectic, an agnostic and an insomniac?
A person who stays awake all night, wondering if there is a dog.