I promised you that I would wear an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day before I owned one. That made me nervous. I could have ordered a shirt specially made for that day, but the shipping was expensive, and I was sure it wouldn’t fit me well. The local store I thought had them, didn’t.

Fingers crossed, I went to a couple of thrift stores. I didn’t find one orange shirt; I found a dozen to choose from. I like the one I chose so much, I want to wear it every day.

God closed one door and opened another to something more than I hoped for.

I hold onto that story as the date for my book launch inches closer. I need to press “Publish” so the books arrive on time. But I can’t. I’m still waiting for permission from a publishing company to use a poem. It’s been over ten weeks now. Will it ever come?

On Sunday I’m trying to listen to the sermon and not stew about it. Ruth, our priest, talks about staying with uncomfortable feelings and taking them to God.

God, you know I don’t like uncertainties and having to rely on something that is out of my hands. But, I’m not in this pinchy place alone. You are here and know what I need.

Could the Provider of Orange Shirts be up to some love-mischief?

Ruth ends her sermon with a poem, I can’t believe it. That poem would work even better than the one I originally planned to use. God, do you really work that fast?

I email the author and the next morning, I receive permission to use his poem. In fact, he is delighted that what God has given him has found a place in my book.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
–Hebrews 11:1 (NIV, 1973)

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Love Mischief for the World

Bases and Orphan Aid thrift stores are run by volunteers who want to make life better for children and families. Bases provide opportunities for children, youth, families in Burnaby that lead toward success and independence. “If a child wants to join a sports team but can’t afford the equipment or fees, we can help them,” a volunteer told me. The proceeds from Orphan Aid Thrift Store go to support the care and education of HIV-AIDS orphans in Zambia through the Abbottsford charity, Seeds of Hope Children’s Ministry.

What love mischief are you and God doing to care for the earth?
Let me know and I will include it in an upcoming post.

Credits and References:
Photo of painting of knights attempting a leap of faith to reach the Holy Grail (from the feature film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) by Mary Harrsch. Used with permission.
Foggy Mountain by Lauri Sten. Used with permission.
Photo of Bases Thrift Store from basesburnaby.com, Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2019.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2019.  http://www.estherhizsa.com