Good things Nasty things

I don't know if we are the only ones this happens to, but it so often seems that when God is doing a rather obvious thing in our hearts / lives that often these nasty things pop up. Now, this is all rather small scale in comparison to what others endure, but as it's happened more than once, it seems there is more to it than just coincidence. Such as last night driving home from a weekend in the big city D and I are talking of truly good things. Being reminded of the truth in unison. So, we get home and big dog goes and deliberately pees (very very stinky urine might I add) in the office all over the carpet we just steam cleaned not a week ago. Then our other little dog poops upstairs. Then baby of the family (20 months as of now) sleeps badly, while our stomachs gurgle and feel a little off. Next day, whiny clingy toddler and then a 4 year old who throws up.

Okay, I am just reminded of something. . .

We have a friend who we have known since he was born of the Spirit. (almost 10 years now). Ended up in a pastoral postion etc etc. This last year has been utterly brutal for him. We hadn't actually been in touch for over a year until this last August. Anyway, we get in touch (due to D having a freaky dream with him in it) and say we are passing by his way and he invites us to stay and visit. So, off we are to visit. Well, the night before we are due to arrive D comes down with the stomach flu. The next day as we travel through the mountains to our friends abode I get sick. So of course we are thinking, gee maybe we shouldn't bring the stomach bug to their house (they have 2 little kids). So we phone and inform them of the problem, but they insist we come regardless. Then we arrive, I come down with a fever now. I take some meds and listen to the horrific story of all the brutal slander, rejection, hatred from a good amount his church members. . . We had no clue as we really had gone through a distant patch with them. Other than the dreams that my husband had that turned out to be right on.

So, anyway, we leave the next day, glad that we were in unity once again, glad that our friend had a neutral friend to share his heart to and quite shocked by the brutality of it all. Anyway, we don't hear from him for a few months, until just before Christmas. He calls, and he and D talk for hours and hours. Just painful stuff that he has been enduring. Lo and behold, whilst they talk I come down with the stomach flu. And D the next day. So, they talked again this last Sat (the weekend in the city) via msn in the hotel. Gee is it any surprise that our daughter has come down with a stomach thing once again - not to mention my stomach feeling fairly lousy at the mo. It didn't even occur to me til I started writing this that we had yet again been in touch with our friend. The three times we (or D - me vicariously) have been in touch with our friend we have come down with a stomach upset! The only 3 times we have been sick and the only 3 times we have been in touch with him, just listening and encouraging Him in the love of God.

3 times in a row!

Oh and get this. while we are travelling (back in August), before we get to our friends house (who has been enduring all this stuff. . .) we are visiting other friends we haven't seen in a long time along the way (travelling from Vancouver Island (where we used to live and friends and family live) to Saskatchen (where we live now). So we get to the first friends house. Have a wonderful edifying unifying time with them. The morning we are to leave our host lifts up a patio chair and accidently breaks her outdoor light. We stop by some dear old friends on the way out of that city for a quick visit. There their coffee table gives way and a bowl breaks. D and I look at each other in bemused amazement. Twice in one day. That evening we arrive at the last friends we are set to visit before we head to our pastor friends home. Would you believe it?! (I would). Our host breaks his wine glass!! 3 in one day.

So yeah, just interesting stuff like that happens sometimes. . .