Oct. 5, 2022 “Go around to the back of the building. Pull in by the loading dock, and one of the guys will help you load,” I was told, as I stopped at an area business to pick up a work-related package. “I radioed back and told them you were here to pick up for the North Country Catholic.” I got back in my car and followed the instructions. Once I located the loading dock, I backed in, put my vehicle in park, and hopped out with it still running to help load the delivery. My vehicle’s radio was playing, and I usually have it fairly loud. A friendly, nice man helped me get the items in my vehicle, and we made small talk while we loaded. As I closed the back of my Jeep, he said, “can I ask you something?” “Go ahead,” I said. “Were you intentionally listening to that song, or did it just come on the radio?” “Kind of both,” I replied. “I have satellite radio. I don’t pick the songs, but I currently have it tuned to the ‘90s alternative rock station, so I at least wanted that type of music. I listen to all sorts of stuff.” It turned out, he liked my radio station, and we talked about music for a few minutes. We talked a bit about the kind of work we do. As we concluded our conversation, he said, “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you’re not at all what I was expecting when they said the ‘North Country Catholic lady’ was here.” At first, I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized it was neither. Instead, it was just a moment of God being God. God created us each in his own image, but He also created us each uniquely and intentionally. God made me the kind of person who likes loud music and chatting with strangers, and He put me on a path that led me to working in His service. Maybe, just maybe, God used that moment to show that man that whatever he had in mind for “the North Country Catholic lady” doesn’t cover the diversity and universality of Catholicism. Maybe it showed him you can love God and love to rock out in loud car concerts. It was a good reminder that we are given our gifts, preferences, personalities for a reason, and God knows how those fit into His plan and use them for His glory. And it’s sometimes not at all what we were expecting. |
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