Make God Laugh. Tell Him Your Plans, March/April 1998
by George Highland
In 1987 I pledged myself to Jesus, the Incarnate Wisdom, through
total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. What does this
means for me? I offer every day the sacrifices demanded of my
daily duties. I pray the Rosary daily while meditating on the
mysteries. I wear the scapular of Mount Carmel and recite the
act of Marian consecration prayer. I have made many First Friday
and First Saturday vigils, and at least once every week have
made a Holy Hour for years. Finally, I have been able to offer
myself to God, and bear with submission all the sufferings he
has sent to me so far, in reparation for the sins that offend
him, and for the conversion of sinners. Soon after making my
total consecration to Jesus through Mary, I received many blessings.
I would like to share a few.
I was a detective for a suburban police department. We were working to solve numerous robberies in which people were being locked inside of restaurant food coolers at different days and hours. All of us on the case were used up and didn't know where to turn.
But I turned to Mary and asked her for help.
We speculated that the next possible robbery scene could be at a certain restaurant when the employees came to set up at 6am. The robbers' method was to take the first employee in the morning as he went to the rear of the business and force him at gunpoint into the refrigerator, then do the same with the rest of the workers later. So my partner and I went out to the restaurant for a possible "hit," to apprehend the thieves in the act without anyone getting hurt. We did this for a long period of time, and just when we were about to abandon this approach, two robbers showed up. We watched as they put their plan into action. One robber went to the rear of the business, the other stayed near his car. They were waiting for the employees to arrive.
My partner and I could see the man at the rear near the garbage receptacle had a gun in his hand, but I lost sight of him as he hid. The employees were just about to arrive so we decided to apprehend the thieves now. As we were closing in, I told my partner, "Pray to your guardian angel." His eyes looked amazed.
I came to the area where I thought the gunman would appear, but he wasn't there. The next thing I knew, a handgun was pointed at my head. But I had my shotgun at his stomach. Time stood still. (I had on my body armor, but nothing around my head!) Something told me not to kill the man but have trust in the Lord and everything would be all right.
I yelled at the thief to drop his gun. To my shock, he did.
We arrested both men, gathered all evidence and solved many other department cases. I began to say the Rosary like never before. I was so thankful I began to pray more from the heart. Many, many other great things have happened to me, my wife, Joan, and our family since my total consecration. I have learned to "Let go and let God." When I take over, at any time, things get goofed up.
For instance, in November 1993, I had a brain tumor removed from my head, which had wrapped itself around my brainstem. Everything is find today, but if I had tried to "take charge" of the situtation and handle things myself, I bellieve I would be dead or in a wheelchair. LIving with the results of the tumor might appear difficult to most, but I accept my state of life. I have so much to be grateful for. I was always looking for what I didn't have or what others had. Now I want what the saints possessed, serenity, but I have to ask for the grace.
Since my consecration I have learned that I cannot control people, places, things or situations. I have to keep reminding myself to "plan, plan, but don't plan the results." All of this I have learned from others who know this approach works. Just doing the simple things that God places in my path at the moment have so much value to me now. This realization was too simple to be true.
One other thing I have learned. If you want God to laugh, all you have to do is tell him your plans.
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of the Immaculata. All rights reserved.
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