He lifted the TV and asked that I grab the door and as he backed in the door, hands full, he looked at my car and said "that guy is not supposed to be in your car is he? Another car had pulled beside my car just moments after we had started unloading and I just thought it was another customer and did not give it much attention. In a matter of seconds, and I truly say seconds, one man had opened the passenger door, grabbed my purse, gotten in the waiting car and hauled down Antoine, and I, in thoughtless response, followed, running and screaming on foot. A sight to behold I am sure, but what else could I do. Another car waiting for the light on Antoine witnessed my tantrum, made a quick turn and asked in haste what happened and proceeded to follow the car. The car made a left on Memorial and then apparently, according to the witness proceeded to go about 100 miles an hour down Memorial running every red light and then finally getting on Loop 610. They had escaped and their folly of theft was successful. In a matter of 45 minutes they had spent $250.00 at three gas stations.
I went through the rigorous ordeal of canceling credit cards, etc. They did not get my phone or keys so that was a big help but I still am spooked by their audacity and my vulnerability. I was bummed the rest of the afternoon and evening. And still today it is weighing on my mind. I want to catch those suckers before they do it to anybody else. All this said, those were just things. Nobody hurt, no physical damage done, and things are just things that can be replaced. But a incident like this does call for a repositioning of thoughts. First of all, simplify...I don't need a big purse filled with things I "might" need. Second of all, pay attention always to what and who is around you. Third of all, everything that I have been blessed to have, be it monetary or not, belongs to God and not to me. The theft was in fact an act against God...and he will judge it
accordingly. I can fret all I want but that will not change a thing. But what I can do is learn from the experience, the hard way and try to make some beneficial changes without compromising my "everything will turn out OK" attitude.
I did pray immediately for God to get my purse back, but for now, the answer is no, probably because it isn't one of those high points on his radar or maybe because the lesson to be learned is that in all things be attached to HIM and not my stuff. Or maybe it was a realization in my bubbled world that evil is lurking, inside hearts and minds and it shows up in actions. I would love to rationalize that this theory does not pertain to me as I am not on the streets looking for an opportunity to lunge and grab someone else's property but in reality I probably do this too, not in such a blatant assault but in a subtle attempt to steal away someone's character by gossiping, or stealing someone's joy by saying something negative, or stealing someone else's thunder by trying to capture a spotlight in word or deed. It sure isn't fun when God uses my pointing finger to aim three of them back at me.
When an injustice is done to any of us we balk, sometimes silently sometimes not. But God is watching us all, and is a Holy witness to all our blunders. Some will obviously be more hurtful that others, more blatant than others and more obvious than others, but none will go unnoticed. It is God who will use events, incidents, and wrongdoings to heighten our awareness of His sovereignty. This was just a purse snatching, but it is a real in the face reminder to me that evil is lurking. It even lurks within me and within all of us, thought pride tries to keep us blinded from it, for there is a constant battle for attention...good vs. evil, right vs. wrong! We cannot win the battle on our own for the forces against us are strong and manipulative and strategic. Oh but when God is on our side, who can be against us. For his power dominates, his light illuminates, his wisdom penetrates, and his love generates within us a yearning to fight for the good and gracious ways of the Lord.
The little analogy about the new Christian is not too far from the truth. The new Christian was asked: how is it going? And the response was: It is like there is a war going on within me between a big black dog and a great white dog! And the friend ask: Who is winning? and the response is "The one I feed the most".
James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The black dog clearly won in the purse case, but it makes me wonder if the two black guys even recognized that there was a war and that there were two sides and that God is the victorious one when all is said and done. God has the power and wisdom to have his way and he claims his territory from the evil one who vies to steal it. Christ holds fast to the ones who believe in his name and seek his ways, and his truth prevails as well as his ultimate justice. So, as my Molly reminded me this morning to give this to God and let him take care of it and let it go, I will attempt to do just that. For this is over, some lessons learned, awareness peeked, and again a reminder that God sees all, knows all and will handle all.
Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
Dear Lord, Evil is lurking. Help me to recognize it, identify it and to stay clear of it. Please keep your hedge of protection around my family and all those who you have graciously put in my path who I am blessed to call friends. Amen
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