serendipity?

The beginnings of a new school year are always marked with new challenges and the whims and whinings of a new administrator or a new superintendent or a new process or practice that is going to "change the world as we know it". That is the expectation and attraction to teaching - that each year one is provided the opportunity to do things differently, start over, reinvent the wheel, etc. But this year has been different. The preparation for and the start of a new school year have been beyond challenge...beyond the typical ... and it has been extremely frustrating ... the kids are getting the brunt of it. The frustration is not mine alone - most of our teachers are caught up in the maelstrom of autocratic change that often seems to exist simply to change. The pendulum will always swing - but we seem to be caught in a swing so abrupt we are suffering from whiplash. Perhaps this is following on the heals of our national pendulum swing in government intervention and control and simply complicates things. Then there is the "other stuff" ... two colleagues have shared personal family crisis with me in the past week - another friend shared her daughter's promiscuity and self destructive behavior - still another is about to lose their job and their spouse just underwent surgery that will take weeks to rehab. and this all in the past two days... and then the letter came! Actually it was a global mailing from Ransomed Heart - the ministry of John Eldridge, but it seemed as if he had written it directly to me. He recounted almost the same story I've just outlined. He said he had been reminded of the line from Thomas Paine, "These are the times that try men's souls." Yes, I'd also thought of that line. When he prayed about his frustration and the hopelessness that surrounds us in a world that is so broken, he said his response was simply - "Union with me ..." Well I was already there, but perhaps needed a reminder. Yesterday morning I read from Galations and Paul continually reminds us to put our trust in the Lord ... grace and mercy. Grace and mercy! Yes, it is enough! I have greatly summarized both a two page letter and the letter of Paul to those in Galatia, but what a serendipity to have those two letters come on the same day. I wonder if John actually sent that letter to thousands of other men or if I was the only one? There are no serendipities in Jesus - I'm convinced that he provides enough grace and mercy at just the right times to save our lives from the pool of hopelessness in which we often swim and to empower us to rescue others. Grace and mercy ... serendipity?