A Divine Encounter

Yesterday I had one of the strangest encounters that I have maybe ever had. I decided to go to the local Walmart after work around 5 pm. I needed to get some pool supplies for our pool that we had set up over the weekend for the kids. I am kind of new at the whole pool maintenance thing, so I was just staring at the aisle that carried all the supplies wondering which bottle of ph plus or ph minus to get.

I notice a man to the left of me that was also looking at some things. He seemed just as new or ignorant as I was. I decided to strike up a conversation and ask him a few questions hoping that he could answer some things for me. It became evident fairly quickly that he was just as clueless as I was. There was something strangely familiar about this man. It was like I had seen him before in a past lifetime. We both had the same size pool and we were talking about chlorinating tablets and keeping it clean. I said to him,'you know it's funny because as a kid I grew up on a beautiful island and my backyard was the ocean, and here I am trying to figure out how to maintain a 600 gallon pool'. I chuckled and he became silent. I thought maybe I offended him or something. He then asked me what island I grew up on. I said you probably haven't heard of it, Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles. He asked me what my last name was. He grew silent again and then asked me my parents name. By now we are both feeling like something pretty amazing is happening, like opening a present that you have been waiting for.

'My name is ......', we lived down the street from you on the island and our parents were good friends'. I couldn't believe it. What are the chances of meeting a fellow missionary kid who grew up on the same tiny
Island at the same time over 23 years ago? Two dads standing in the same aisle at a Walmart in Kansas City. He just moved here after retiring from thenAir Force to get his Masters degree at the same seminary that I work at. Bizarre? Strange? Divine. I am looking forward to sitting down with him and catching up and talk about the days on the island that seemed a lifetime ago. I love the surprises that God brings our way. It is very exciting when you live for God because everyday awaits opportunities for a divine encounter. Just had to share. Be blessed.