"The Shadow Proves the Sunshine"

So, I was looking at my blog and realizing that it has been a long time since I posted anything. A lot has happened since the final day of 2006, one story, I want to record in particular... I think it has been long enough now that this story can be told almost with laughter, instead of tears...

It was a dark chilly evening on that first day of the year 2007...
I flew back to LAX (bad idea), on a holiday (bad idea number 2), and one of my bags got lost... long story short, I deplaned at 8:15pm, and I left LAX around 11:15pm. (thanks hil and dan for waiting, you guys are champs). Then after the long car ride through LAX traffic and home to my cozy little apartment, I arrive to see that my car is not where it was parked...and neither is Melody's or anyone else's who left them in that parking lot. I also see some new signs:The big red sign reading, "PRIVATE PROPERTY...your car will be towed if you park here" was not put up when I parked my car in the lot before going home to Oregon for Christmas. So, while melody and I and the other Biola students were at home drinking hot chocolate and singing carols, our cars were finding a new home in the impound. So, upon our return, we found our cars missing and that they had a $600 ransom price. Ouch. The towing company guys were criminal, no mercy, no concern for our college-kid-who-lives-on-top-ramen sob stories. So we got some great friends to drive us out to the impound, and we shelled out the ransom money, and returned home with our cars, and the five dollars we had left to our names:


The story doesn't end there. Hilary and Dan, who already took their day off to take us to the impound, felt bad for us and cooked us a steak dinner. Holy smokes it was good, almost good enough to take away the badness of that day...almost.
And then, the next day, my high school team I coach had a game, and one of the parents heard that I was gone tuesday because of my car fiasco (did I spell that right?), and after the game she gave me money to help cover the cost of the towing. It was an incredible answer to prayer, and an expression of extreme generosity.

It really got me thinking, about how the difficult circumstances in my life prove to be so bittersweet. As I thought back upon each major hardship I had faced in the past few years, each one was coupled with incredible memories of steadfast friends coming straight into my room to pray and cry with me when my aunt passed away, or encouraging notes and random envelopes with money stuck in my mailbox or on my car when my computer and school work got stolen, long, late-night encouragement talks when I was hurting, and free meals when ends just didn't seem to meet.
I'm not sure I'd change a thing, if I had it to do all over again...not that anyone would ever wish to have their car towed or their bag/computer stolen, or to lose a family member, or any other trial. Yet, in those moments, I have most clearly seen the heart of Christ, I've most evidently seen people functioning as the Body, I've been tangibly reminded of how God loves and provides for me, and how the people in my life are genuine, and they really care.
I used to fear that my life was "too good" that this can't be real, that life can't continue on this great, allowing me to be so content. I feared that some huge insurmountable trial awaited me just around the corner. True, a huge trial may be awaiting me around the corner, but it is certainly not insurmountable, and it can not shake the "good life" that I've been granted through Christ, and am continually reminded of through His people. Like the hymn writer so eloquently wrote "when peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roar, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul."

So for those of you who have dropped off notes, blessed me with finances, or prayed, or stayed up late talking me through life, or cooked me a meal, or offered me your couch, "I thank my God upon every rememberance of You." You have reminded me that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and who are called according to His purpose."

Can I hear your story of when God moved (or used His people to move) in your life to turn a difficult time into a blessing?