Chance Encounter
by Pauli Hubbard
It was one of those browsing days; I had walked into a used-bookstore just killing time mostly. I wanted something to read beside my electronic reader... something that smelled used and loved. Something with dogeared pages and perhaps a tear stain.
My fingers ran across the the sales table books and stopped at a very worn book whose cover had been torn off. What the heck!? Who would do this?
It didn’t take me long to realize that it was a Bible. Not a religious person, but certainly a curious one, I flipped through the pages. Something caught my eye, a
passage from the Psalms, written by someone who obviously wanted God to know that he loved Him.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect me to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I'd never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I'm going to do what you tell me to do;
don't ever walk off and leave me.”
My eyes rested on some of the words:
"
that my steps might be steady... then I’d never have any regrets..."
(Wouldn’t that be nice?)
I gently put down the book and then picked it up again. Carrying it to the shopkeeper, I placed my dollar down on the counter and walked out with the words burying themselves in my mind and heart. Here was a writer who knew God, maybe even loved God and desired to be imprinted with God. Wow!
Another phrase came to my mind...I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I continued to read through this love letter. Oh to know, love and be loved by such a One!
Days later it dawned on me that I was already loved by such a One.
