Lessons I've Learned

Maybe I'm just a slow learner. There are still many things that happened during Matthew's experience that I am still trying to process. I knew that God was trying to teach me something, and most of it came through loud and clear. But there are still some things that remain a little fuzzy.
Let's start with the really clear things:

I no longer believe in luck, chance or coincidence. God is is control - even when we don't want him to be. Looking back, I can see several times when I tried real hard to mess this whole story up. But God just wouldn't let me.

Here is just one example that I skipped back in part 2:

Working for General Motors has it's perks, but it was not always easy. During my first 10 years with the company I was laid off more than I worked. During these down times I had several odd jobs - one of which was a part time Fireman. It was a great Job, and I loved it. The trouble was we could not live off the part time wages.
The small Township department had 9 full time positions. I knew that If I could ever land one of those positions, I would be set. So the first time a spot came open, I was ready!
I spent 6 months working out, studying, and praying that God would be with me and help me get this job. After all of the testing and the physical agility evaluation, out of over 300 applicants, I came in 2nd. The Township only hired one. Needless to say God and I were not on speaking terms for a while. The way I figured it, I had tried my best, so it must have been God's fault.
The next time they hired I didn't do as well. I came out 3rd. They hired two. I really felt like God was toying with me.
The next time I decided I was going to do it all myself - no praying - no asking God for any favors. I studied harder, and worked out more than I ever had in my short chubby life. I was determined to be first.
The first day was the written test. That was a breeze. I was number one! The next day was the physical agility test. Because I knew the Captain I had a slight advantage in this category. He let me go with him over to the police academy to pick up a 135lb sand dummy they were going to use for the agility test. I remember that the dummy was in the basement down three flights of stairs. I picked the dummy up with one hand, flung it over my shoulder and walked back up the stairs without breaking a sweat. I had it made! There was no way anyone was going to beat me.
The next day I was first in every category. At the end of the day all I had to do is pick up the same dummy and walk up two flights of stairs and the job was mine. My friend (the Captain) was smiling from ear to ear. He knew I could do it. But God had other plans for me.
I bent down and grabbed the dummy - just like the day before - and it didn't budge! At first I laughed thinking that my buddies were playing a trick on me. I thought that they had glued the dummy to the floor. The captains smile vanished. He said, "come on Anderson, quit goofing around." I wasn't goofing around! The dummy would not budge. The test was timed. I had three minutes to get this dummy up the stairs. For three desperate minutes I pulled with everything I had. Nothing.

Looking back I can now picture an angel sitting on the head of that dummy laughing at me.
You see if I had got the job, we would never have come to Columbia. We would have never heard of Matthew, or Jesi, or Krysi, or Tyler, or Emily Klair, or Kinsley, or Karlie, or Maury Hills for that matter. God really does know best.