The Hand of Providence

Found a gift this week...a yucca with a small bloom in early November.  Every time I see these I am reminded of Benita and how much she loved to eat them.  About a month after she left here for the last time, a huge one bloomed (not far from her final resting place) and I hoped she would come back home so I could give it to her.  Was it a sign?  Was it a message?  I keep my ears and eyes and heart open wide for the conspicuous.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Adrienne sent me this and I think it is appropriate to share since the election is days away...

Tragically, while walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator (that may be redundant) is hit by a car and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.""No problem, just let me in," says the Senator. 
    "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
    "Really? I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator. 
    "I'm sorry, but we have our rules."  
    And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present was the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.
    They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it's time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven...
    Twenty-four hours pass with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the twenty-four hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
    "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
    The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said this before...Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would bebetter off in hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...
    The doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls to the ground. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.
    "I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
    The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today, you voted."

By 1778, George Washington had so often witnessed God's intervention that on August 20, he wrote Thomas Nelson that:

"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations."