Ipis 2

I never thought I'd be writing about cockroaches again immediately following the first story. But when I opened the light to my room, I saw one poised near the ceiling. It was in a definite flying mood and the thought that went through my mind was: am I going to ask God to guide the cockroach out again? Or would that be unfair since it might remain in the living area and scare my housemates as well? 

I decided to take the coward's way out and closed the door behind me. But I guess I had not closed it quickly enough because a few moments later, I heard a fluttering sound—there was the creepy crawler clinging to the curtain (hmmm... pwedeng tongue twister). So again, the prayer in a form of a question... Lord, pwede ba ulit...? 

In answer, the cockroach flew a circle around the room—as well as around my very worried head—and landed on the stairs. Gingerly, I opened the wooden door that led to the garden. Accommodatingly enough, the roach soon flew towards the door and landed on top of it. Then it hopped to the upper part of the outer screen door. I held the wooden door ajar enough for my other hand to keep the screen door slightly open. I turned on the lights outside. One part of me hoped the light would attract the cockroach, but it was more so I could keep an eye on the little bugger. With bated breath I watched it nearing the upper rim of the screen door and... finally sit atop enough so I could effectively nudge it out.

What a sigh of relief!  

Then I sat back in amazement that God would answer my roach-related request again, albeit in a different way. Where the prior cockroach took its zigzaggedy, fluttery time to tour the living/dining area, the latest roach made for the door and exited quickly.

Sometimes God answers in a crooked line--maybe/wait, sometimes it's a straight line--yes. But even if the answer is no, the one sure thing is that it's always answered with love. He always wants what's best for us. 

Thank you, Father, for the yes's, the no's, and the maybe's. May your will, love, and grace prevail always!

Ipis

I dread nothing more than cockroaches--except for maybe flying cockroaches. But I can't bring myself to kill them. So it was not a pleasant feeling to find a potentially flying one crawling around the tiny living room of the apartment I rent with B and S. As it crawled around the door near the kitchen, I asked God if he would guide the cockroach out--maybe by the hinge jamb where I could crush it, though even as I thought it, the idea made me cringe. 

The cockroach went about its business unperturbed, taking its sweet creepy crawly time, going up and falling down (sometimes with a threatening flutter), in a zigzag manner across the room. Eventually, it neared the door leading out of the house. I opened the inner wooden door. It fell upside down beneath it before making its way nearer the outer screen door, which I gingerly unlocked. The cockroach crawled to the corner of the door... I pushed it open, and watched as it slipped out. I quickly shut the screen door in relief.

This reminded me of how God answers our prayers not according to our limited words and understanding of what we think we want (e.g., please let the cockroach be in the kitchen instead of the living room), which may only be a temporary solution. He gives us answers that are better than what we ask for, in accordance with His lavish love. This love is so lavish that things other people will see as trivial, He takes into consideration--even something like a fear of cockroaches. And while we watch things go up and down, in a zigzag manner that sustains our anxiety level, things might actually be falling into place. 

Lord, thanks for taking care of the little things and the big things. Help me to trust in you, to be still and know that you are God, even if everything seems topsy turvy and out of sorts. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.