There are some events in life which defy mere coincidence. In reality, such events probably occur every day, all around us, but usually we do not recognize them for what they are- the hand of God at work. Yet, from time to time we do catch a glimpse of God’s hand, even in the smallest of circumstances.

Saturday night was one of those times. It was a hot summer evening and I was at the Durban beachfront with some friends. It was late and we were just sitting by the boardwalk chatting as hundreds of people moved past us along the walk, visiting shops, restaurants, clubs and casinos. In the middle of a conversation I was having, a man walking past caught my attention. He was in a black suit and was obviously a security guard. He looked just like another security guard I had happened to talk to about 3 weeks ago in another part of town. That guard had been a big Congolese man, wearing a similar black suit. I honestly don’t know why, but I just decided to go after him and see if he was the same man I’d talked to 3 weeks ago. It was a strange thing to do since I wasn’t even sure he’d remember me if it was the same guy, but for some reason, I just went, without hesitating or really thinking through what I was doing.

By the time I caught up to him we were just outside a restaurant. I got his attention and asked if he was a security guard over in Glenwood where I thought I had seen him. He was, and was also from the Congo, but wasn’t the same guard I had talked to before. Somehow though, the place where we had stopped to talk happened to be right next to a young guy who overheard my question. He laughed and said, “Actually, I know the other guard that you’re talking about, and I thought they looked exactly alike too.” The three of us chatted for a few minutes before the security guard moved on. The other guy started talking to me and we ended up standing there conversing for an hour or more. His name was Wesley, he grew up in Durban, tried to play professional soccer for awhile before becoming a police officer and has now been on the Durban force for about four years.
As we talked, he started sharing with me about some challenges that he’s gone through recently which have caused him to doubt God and kind of give up on pursuing Him. He had been betrayed by a close friend who claimed to be a Christian and he was having a hard time understanding why God would allow it.

I mostly listened and shared a few thoughts and a couple verses, but didn’t say anything too profound. Nevertheless, at the end of our conversation he said how grateful he was that God had directed him to this meeting, and shared with me that as a police officer, always carrying a gun had brought him face to face with the temptation both to suicide and revenge, but that what he wanted most was “to get his life back.”
Today I sent him a text with a related verse of Scripture and he replied, “Thanx brother, I really needed that. This whole thing hurts a lot. I just wana be myself again. Thanx, I really appreciate it.”

I would have to say that this was one of the strangest chance meetings that I’ve ever had with someone, but it reminds me again that our God is a God of details. He is a God with a plan and a purpose for everything, and whether I can see that purpose or not, I can trust Him!

Pray for Wesley, I think that for him, the journey is just beginning!