It's Friday night before a Saturday night concert at Shepherd Hill Opry. Ricky, Lawanda, Benny and I are sitting around Mother's favorite bar discussing what's left to be done the next day to get ready. "We're in pretty good shape". Snacks - check, drinks - check, performers confirmed - check, house cleaned for overnight guests, check, grass cut - check, etc., etc. Suddenly a grave thought came over me - I FORGOT TO ORDER THE PORTA POTTIES! Panic set in. Immediate phone call to my normal contact John. He will see what he can do - "drivers don't work Saturdays!" Of course they don't. Well, all you can do is all you can do, right? Folks will just have to hold it for 2 or 3 hours. Hopefully, they will go before they come and if we are lucky they will forgot to take their blood pressure medicine just this one day, right?
LaWanda says as they are going out the door, "we will just have to pray about it tonight." So, after they left, I told the Lord -(like He didn't already know), "Look, I've messed up but I really need some porta potties and I don't know how to fix this but you know we need them."
Normally, on Saturday night, I type Shane's message that he will be delivering on Sunday morning. But since we were having the concert, he comes early Saturday morning instead. As I am typing and we are discussing "stuff" I told him what his jughead mother had done. FORGOT TO ORDER THE PORTA POTTIES. He says, well maybe Jay would have some suggestions since he is over PARA. He sends Jay a text. Jay responds immediately with a contact and further adds, "if this one doesn't work I'll try another one." I make the call and explain my dilemma. His response, "we don't normally do this on Saturday but since it's for Jay, we can make it work. What time do you want them delivered?"
Three hours later, two bright orange porta potties are set up on Shepherd Hill and ready for use!!!
A few hours later we are enjoying a beautiful outdoor concert in the open air, under God's beautiful sky, with wonderful folks. Building community. Planting shade trees in the lives of others.
The Lord cares about every detail of our life, even our mistakes and shortcomings. He knows what we need. Did the porta potties fall from the sky? No. But - they did come through his servants, Shane and Jay, by way of Spanky's. Divine? Absolutely!! I learned several lessons in this. One is that I need to slow down, take my time and be more thorough. And also, to NOTICE how God works in the details of my life. There are no accidents. He has chosen to accomplish His work through us. He could have dropped porta potties from the sky, but instead He chose to supply my need through others.
Every time I saw someone walk toward the porta potty that night I was reminded of where they came from. God made sure this little group in my little community of Samantha, Alabama had everything we needed and for a few short hours we forgot about all the toil and "busy-ness" of life and relaxed to listen some good music, enjoy fresh buttered popcorn and a nice cold coke.
Martin Luther said, Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” Hebrews 2:12
