My driving experience this morning. I wasn’t speeding at all. I even tried to slow down to avoid the birds.

Three geese just started flying over the road..

And one’s trajectory was lower.

I shared with one of my friends at work and he replied, “Find the message.”

I’m finding the humor in it. I couldn’t help smiling the rest of the drive. 😳😆🙂

The goose also reminded me of the words of Saint Paul…

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

Everything is connected. If you’re a fan of the TV show Manifest you will know exactly what I’m talking about. For those that haven’t seen it Romans 8:28 means that God can use anything for your good. Even the horrific and seeemingly unpurposely stuff you go through.

In 2014 my view on this verse was much different than it is today. On a November afternoon, I attended my wife’s pregnancy appointment because she was experiencing some pain. I heard my unborn son’s heartbeat on the ultrasound. A mere four hours later my wife miscarried. It was a horrifying experience. Beyond words. The best description for the pain I experience was numbing and like a snake bite. The poison didn’t set in immediately. Not until several months later did I come to grip with the emotions I felt. Losing a child made me question God’s goodness and I struggled to find good in anything.

The phrase “abandonment to Divine Providence” is still probably the most accurate description of how my faith life went. Dark night of the soul is another image I continue to reflect on in relation to my suffering that year. Yelling in anger and sadness at God was my default form of prayer in the months after the miscarriage.

But God truly does use everything for our good. Even the worst experiences. Grief is love that persists. It’s a tangible sign of what remains of your loved ones that passed away. Death sucks. But the more you experience death (spiritually or literally when you lose family and friends) the closer to get to the Crucified Christ. It’s a mystery of pain and love.

God can use anything for your good.

Going back to the Goose

Why did the goose dawdle in his aerial ascent? Why did I almost hit the bird with my vehicle? These are odd questions I still think about months after the incident.

God used the goose to grab my attention. My first reaction was laughter at the strangeness of the event. Moments after the “thud” of the goose against my windshield, I knew I wanted to write a longer article about this experience and what it took me.

I finally got around to finishing this post a couple months later. Everything is connected. God’s gives us signs and opportunities to learn in a variety of ways.

In case you were wondering… the bird is okay.

Take Flight, Let Your Soul Soar Towards God

How has God worked in your life?

How has your understanding of Romans 8:28 changed over time?

Take time to reflect on God’s workings in your life today!

P.S. Spread the Gospel news daily through your actions— even accidentally clipping a goose…use words if necessary. 🙂