God's Ways Vs My Ways

It was just before 6am, and I was completely out of breath.  On my way back to work from a retreat, I had decided to bike.  Within the first 15 minutes, I had a flat tire, a tight timeline, and 18km to go.  I had run to a nearby bus stop, hoping to get a ride back to town.  I was feeling frustrated and stressed and was on the verge of blaming God for my dilemma.  If I was late for work that day, it would have been disasterous. 

“After all that planning and all my efforts,” I was thinking, “why are all my plans failing?” 

Soon, an older man joined me at the bus stop and smiled.  He started chatting with me, and I tried to get my focus on what he was saying.  I didn’t want to be patient and kind with him.  I wanted to be left alone to figure out how to get back to Geneva.  But with some, effort, I started listening.

This older man told me a fascinating story.  He had become acquainted with Roger McGowen, an American man on death row and began a 20 years correspondence with him that changed his life.  He started telling me about Roger’s strength that emerged from his deep spirituality.  Placed in solitary confinement, 30 years in prison while falsely accused, Roger decided to see God’s love in his life and to be a vessel for that love.  With the meager resources he had, Roger would encourage the other inmates and pray for the prison guards.  He learned how to have true freedom while living in prison and to be a light in the most adverse circumstances.

Inspired by Roger’s exemplary life and genuine love, this older man started a movement to raise funds for a lawyer to appeal the sentence.  He also gathered the correspondence together into a book, which he published in English and French.  I was amazed at this man’s compassion, genuine care for Roger, and the way he embraced spirituality.  The older man asked me for my address, and several weeks later, the book arrived.

Today I read it and have been profoundly moved, not just by the unbelievable injustice, but by the way that Roger simply and faithfully believes the scriptures and puts them into practice.  Reading how he drew strength from scriptures reminded me that the Bible is meant to be applied.  I can cling to God’s word and His promises.

I’m so grateful that my bike broke down that early Monday morning.  I’m so grateful that this older man decided to start talking with me.  I’m so grateful that we each had an opportunity to share our faith with each other.  An I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read the correspondence of a remarkable individual.  This wouldn’t have been my plan for the morning, and often God allows me to walk through things I’d prefer to avoid.  But in the end, I’d rather trust in God’s wisdom and love that my own plans.  Every now and again, I get glimpses of just how much better they are than anything I could imagine.

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

If you want to read more about this remarkable person, here’s the link: www.rogermcgowen.org

• How has God showed you His amazing ways (even when it wasn’t your plan)?
• What could God be teaching you in some adverse situations?
• What are some ways that you can learn from someone else’s walk with God and share some of your own experiences?

Kim Bonner, Geneva