The words of Amos, one of the shepherds... (Amos 1:1).

God chooses the foolish and damaged in the world to confound the wise and complacent. When our son Dan and I went to California for the graduation of our son Robert, the three of us went sightseeing. Toward mid-afternoon we were tired and needed to freshen up so we found a rest-stop and went in.

We weren't there long when a young man and an older woman came in. Something was wrong with the young man; in fact, I thought him a bit strange as I watched him come over toward us. He started talking to us in halting speech. His story fixed our attention immediately. He told us the older woman was his mother who brought him back from death, literally. He shared how he was forced to learn to walk and talk again, about the brain damage and her years-long vigil of love so he could face life again. Albert also told us how much he loved God for bringing him through, and how he wanted to tell others of God's love.

God knew we needed to meet Albert that day. Never again would we take life for granted. Albert's accident gave him a mission to help the rest of us know our missions.

Father, may we be simple enough to understand your wisdom in our lives.