His Appointment

East Window
--by Velma Cozzutto

Many years ago, among other poetry I collected, there was this one that I've resorted to again and again. An unattributed author wrote:
"Disappointment, His appointment;
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Was God's better plan for me."
I dusted it off again this past Saturday. Through a whole series of incidents in which I could see God's provision in contacts, I was offered a book-signing occasion at the Paisley Penguin downtown in Aberdeen. It offered a real opportunity for both of us in bringing in customers for them and book sales for me on the Open House day when merchants offered drink and goodies to the many who would be out for the occasion.I had prepared for the day, even ordered in a few more books. Steve Armes at the shop had done such a nice job of advertising on the radio, in their window, flyers handed out, etc.
Well, on Saturday morning we were greeted with a wind and rainstorm like one we haven't had for a long time. Maybe it would let up, I hoped. It didn't. Downtown streets were empty except for an occasional well-protected brave soul. On this Monday, the wind is still lashing the rain against the window.
I could have felt disappointed that the day had turned out so differently. Yet, too many things had worked together for good. First, my son showed up instead of my daughter-in-law with whom I had made arrangement to help me. That was okay because I enjoy spending time with him and I knew that he with his art ability would enjoy meeting Steve and Valerie Armes whose gifts and used book shop displayed a lot of Valerie's art work for sale. Next, we got a parking spot directly in front of the back entrance. Then throughout the two hours we spent there, because there were almost no customers, we had a special time in getting to know the Armes and Brianna, their teen-aged daughter. We had so much in common, both in life experience and way of thinking.
Because I know God doesn't waste anything, I had to wonder what it was that was more important than the book sale. Was it some reinforcement of the fellowship and faith we experienced together? Was it for Brianna, an exceptional young woman who has such wisdom for one her age? Was it for my encouragement to find how strong some of our young people are in the face of everything they face today? Was there more for my son than the order for an emblem design desired by the Coffee Bean Café next door and time spent with another artist?
Or was it all of these? When I got up in the middle of the night, the storm was quiet for the moment and clouds had thinned. Noticing unusual light for the night, I looked up and a full moon was shining directly overhead. It seemed like a benediction and a "mission accomplished" signal. Whatever the mission was, I'm not flattering myself that God arranged the storm and moon just for me, but it was rewarding to feel I had somehow been directly involved in His big plan.

--Velma Cozzutto
Note: Velma's own faith journey is told in a just-published book entitled, When Your Father Says, "Come With Me" ; it's available on Amazon.com.