God and His surprises

This gentleman recently moved to Macon and this last Monday, after I picked him up from his house, he asked me if it was OK to visit a family in Macon before heading to Warner Robins. The husband was from his same village in Mexico. I agreed.

When we arrived at the house, I was greeted by a very young couple. The first thing I noticed as I entered the trailer was a huge wedding picture hanging from the wall. I asked, “when did you get married?” “Almost two years ago,” the wife answered. I congratulated them and asked, “where did you get married?” Her reply shocked me, “at Saint Peter Claver, and you married us Father.”

I was so confused, but then I remembered. After three months at my parish, I received a call to do a last minute wedding at a neighboring parish since the pastor had an emergency and had to leave unexpectedly. I was nervous because it was my very first wedding as a priest. I officiated the wedding, congratulated the couple and left the church thinking I’d never see them again.

To tell the truth, I was a little disappointed because I thought I’d be able to keep track of the first couple I married. I never expected my first couple would be complete strangers to me. But God fixed that this last Monday.

As I blessed the house I saw they had a new-born son. They asked me if I could baptize him in the near future, I was happy to accept.

This happening last night reminds me that God truly is the one in control drawing the path on which we follow Him. For God nothing is a coincidence. He keeps all things in His mind and always acts with purpose and with an end in mind. God is always full of surprises. We just have to open ourselves to allow Him to guide us and there will never be a dull moment in our lives.