Last week I was helping a friend learn how to parallel park in downtown Grand Rapids while we were waiting for a wedding reception to start. She needed to pull out to re-try parallel parking so I stood in the parking spot to save it for her as she drove around the block to give it another whirl.

At that same time my friend was driving around the block, a cool looking burnt orange car came around, stopped right in front of me, and started backing into the parking spot I was standing in, at that time, feeling like a princess in my recently gifted flowery pink, dress.

Shuffling my dress and high heels up to the burnt orange car, I tried persuading the woman driving, to please not park in the spot I was standing in, and attempted to explain I was saving the spot for a friend learning to drive for the first time in America. Yet through some not so friendly conversations, it become clear she was not going to budge, I needed to budge, unless I wanted to get run over.

So, when I was being forced out of the parking spot I had been saving for my friend, I felt sad, heavy, and a bit perplexed! My stomach dropped a few times and my body was tense. I was feeling bummed out and mistreated.

A thought popped in my head: ““For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” I couldn’t help but think, “man, these gals are lacking love right now and it hurt to see that. It must be such an empty life”

Shortly after this experience, the friend of mine driving, eventually came around the corner and I hopped into the car, prayed for the women in the burnt orange car, and scoped out a new spot to park. We knew God would provide something else.

Within a moment of driving, we found a new spot to park, practiced parallel parking again, then went to pay for the parking spot at the meter. As we walked up to the meter, I noticed the tiniest “little Jesus” figure, someone had set down. When I saw that “little Jesus” figure, my eyes lit up, laughter came, and I felt seen by God in that moment. It was almost like God said “I saw what happened Kailey and I am here with you right now.” My body no longer felt tense, I did not feel sad. I felt myself smiling big, enjoying the moment with my friend. We both were encouraged. We were experiencing joy with God and each other.

God shows up in our lives in mysterious ways, serious ways, and through comical moments, too. May our eyes open wide to the reality of His small and big provisions alike. May we never loose our wonder.

Matthew 16:26

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Let love be the answer for us all