How a fly saved a man’s life: Do you trust God’s timing?

The fly that made headlines at the vice presidential debate Wednesday night made me think of another fly that made the news recently.  

An elderly man in France sat down for dinner when he spotted a fly, and his desire to eat in peace evidently got the best of him. He blew up part of his home while trying to kill the fly with an electric bug-killing racket, unaware that a gas canister was leaking in the home.  

The reaction from the electric swatter and gas caused an explosion that destroyed his kitchen and partly damaged the roof. He managed to escape with only minor burns.

I wonder if the fly actually saved his life. 

If the gas leak had gone unnoticed, the outcome could have been much worse. 

A lesson on God’s timing

The man’s response to the pesky fly, although over-the-top, isn’t that unusual. 

We often do the same with annoyances in our lives, often overreacting to situations that a calm head can resolve more easily.  

I’m sure you can remember those times. We all have them. 

What we don’t know is how many times those pesky situations are part of a larger picture—how many times they may make us late but ultimately save us from harm. 

One particular instance in my life comes to mind. 

Several years ago, my sister died unexpectedly, and my husband was on a business trip involving a several-hour flight. We were to leave immediately after he got home, but, for unknown reasons, no gates were available and his flight was delayed in landing. 

We were late leaving and frustrated. Later, on our several-hour drive, we came across a deadly accident that had shut down the interstate in both directions. We both breathed a prayer of gratitude for God’s timing and protection, as well as prayers for those involved in the accident. 

I would like to say that I am always more patient with the pesky distractions that always come, but I’m not. I try to be. I wonder how many times…