Incidental Journeys

After much prayer and consideration, I preponed the ministry literature journey in the month of September this year so as to be able to join the college training in Chennai. However, I had to join it by coming from Hubbali in Karnataka. The Lord had arranged even the journey in such a way that I could catch the only one weekly train that runs straight to Chennai, and that too, on the last day of the distribution, so that I could reach Chennai exactly on the first day of the college students' training. For this reason, there was no transportation from Chennai Central station to the venue, which was about a two-and-a-half-hour journey, as the train arrival time was only after the last bus that was supposed to leave from the railway station arranged by the serving ones. Despite knowing this, I was not worried at all. I trusted the Lord that He would make the necessary arrangements, even for my transportation, as He led me to join the training.

As I arrived at the Chennai Central station on time, a group of saints from Maharashtra, twenty-four of them, also boarded the same train I was in, as their train was delayed for over five hours. This, to me was the Lord’s arrangement, so that I could go along with them to the venue from the station. And the bus that was assigned to pick them also waited, though delayed, so that I could also join them. Otherwise, I had to make my own arrangements to reach the venue. 

For over two hours, I was sitting in the front row with a brother on the bus. As the brother inquired how I got saved and came into the church life, we both had a wonderful time fellowshipping and sharing. For the entire length of time, I shared what the Lord had done and what He still has been doing in my life; His saving grace, His clarion call to serve Him, and His shepherding me into the church life step by step. This was the first time I enjoyed fellowshipping with this brother on how the Lord is so real, practical, wise, and yet mysterious in leading His people to His heart's desire. I understood then that it was the Lord’s perfectly timed incident. 

Incidentally, the last time there was a similar training in the same venue a few years ago, we were together in the same bus after the training on our way back from the venue to Chennai Central station. At that time too, based on his request, I fellowshipped with him about how the Lord recovered the seeking believers in Mathura. 

These two incidents, spanning over a few years apart, truly were the Lord’s arrangement for fellowship. In fact, incidental journeys for fellowship and blending! If not for these two incidents, I would never have fellowshipped with the brother, especially on personal testimonies. These were the only times that I could have a time of fellowship, though we had known each other for many years now. In every incident, the Lord has His intention. Praise the Lord!