Hezekiah prospered in all that he did. 31And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah's heart. 2 Chronicles 32
I was at a place in life of facing myraid challenges and unexpected, repeated, tragedies, including but not limited to a divorce and my son being injured and hospitalized multiple times.
In spite of these of these hostile invasive events, my professional life flouished. My busines grew. I received recognition and accolades. My material possesions and trappings increased, while I travelled and fully enjoyed single life. I struggled though, internally, with the propriety of my work, the meaning of it all, and in general, perpetully questioning my own okay-ness.
On one typical Thursday afternoon, I was leaving my beautiful tenth floor office in South Orange County I was headed to my favorite wine bar, not too far away, when I got rear ended in my beautiful blue Mercedes.
Peace is priceless, was my motto in all things and something I constantly communicated to my divorce clients. As we had to put a dollar value on pretty much everythig in their lives, I told them, peace is priceless, but in this process you will have an oppotunity to purchase it, and only you can decide how much it will be.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Wine Bar, where the valet usually greeted me by name,. Instead this time, I got out of the car to find out the name of stranger who just hit me. A Prius pulled in right behind me and a young man jumped out, rubbing his head and apologizing. I told him to take a deep breath and just tell me his name. He said his name was Noah.
I just stared at him and said, “Of course it is”.
At that moment in my life, it really was as thoguht Babylonian invaders, had wanderded through my life to see what I was made of, and the Lord was watching to see form my choices, what was in my heart. I was broken, and searching, and hearing the call of the Lord to the things and the ministry I had long ago laid down, and what I really needed, more than anything, at that moment, would have been an ark. An ark to resuce me from the flood that I knew was coming. There I stood, with Noah, and his Prius, and him having a panic attack over rear ending my Mercedes.
I realized this was one of those moments that I could choose, and that how this was going to go, was dependent upon me. That motto, about peace, is really about taking the power, to choose, and not allowing circumstances to be an excuse for not choosing. There is no reason to allow circumstances to dictate your identity, your future or the outcome. The Lord stood back and allowed me to make choices in these difficult places and events in my Life. God showed up, through a supportive Pastor, a scripture at the right time and place, a word of reminder about the promises I had made, my own inadequacy and His unfailing faithfulness. Each time, it was up to me though, to choose. I could choose His promises, or I could choose me, my way, or the World’s way.
I told Noah that he should have a nice evening and forget this ever happened. He looked at me stunned. He continued to comment on what a beautiful car I had and asked if there was anything he could do for me. I told him to pray for me.
Hezekiah had succeded in everything he put his hands to. (v.30) He really made a name for himself, and pepe noticed. I know what that is like. It makes it easy to take yourself too seriously, and it doesnt always result in peace. Peace is priceless, but we have to pay something for it. The cost of peace, is surrender.
The Lord was watching, to see what was in my heart. On that day, it was Peace.
