Disciple is re-routed and re-wired by his Master

Anyone who believes in God also believes that the sovereign purpose of God will always be accomplished -- even though that person does not always understand it (Eph. 1:11; Gen. 50:20.) I had every hope and intention of participating in the recent Rev. Billy Graham Crusade (cf., blog below) -- however, it was not meant to be.

We should always be open to the possibility of ill-fated events. As Robert Burns's poem "To a Mouse" (which describes how a field mouse's world is destroyed by a plow) forewarns, "....the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." And as the old saying goes… "Man supposes, but God disposes." In other words, Almighty God is The One Who makes the final judgment on what He wants done and how. In this same vein, the book of Proverbs (16:9.) teaches that, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." ....Jesus had better and more important things for me to learn and do these past two weeks as my pilgrimage continues...

Last Friday, just hours before the NYC Crusade was to begin, I had a massive heart attack (which didn't seem serious at all, at first). And then this week I had several coronary procedures successfully performed on me in the OR (angioplasty for occluded coronary arteries with three stents implanted). But more importantly, those periods of CCU hospitalization at Jamaica Hospital in Queens and Lennox Hill Hospital in Manhattan became more opportunities for a shared inter-faith ministry.

* Thankfully, Fr. Robert from the local Our Lady of the Cenacle parish was immediately summoned to anoint me when they learned that a Catholic priest was brought into the ER. And my undying gratitude also goes out to the FDNY Hazardous Materials Squad ("Queens, NYC HazMat Unit") and EMT's who were flagged down on the boulevard while I was stricken behind the wheel. Had my life partner not popped an aspirin into my mouth right away then most likely I wouldn't be here today since my surgeons later described my kind of heart attack as a "widow maker".

The highlight of that collective experience was when my co-suffering Hindu, Sikh & Moslem brethren prayed with and ministered to me. God works in strange and wonderful ways! My once "distant" neighbors from British Guiana (who live near me) became His instruments of spiritual guidance and healing towards me. Then this priest became urgently needed where he was reluctantly sent. So happy is that man who can say like Eliezer of old: "I being in the way, The LORD led me!" (Genesis 24:27.) And now I also have some new friends whom I bonded with in the most intimate of ways...

Despite my short absence, I will have some pastoral remarks about that Crusade which soon filtered back to me. More later, God willing, after I recoup... It's good to be back "on the road again."

Thank You, Jesus!