The Best Man & the Substitute Pianist

“It is my strong belief that nothing that happens in this world is due to chance, karma, or luck. There is purpose in this life and God Himself designed it that way.” – Bob Williamson

Deanna and I were chatting with one of our neighbors the other day about the various “twists of fate” that we all experience in life. As we delved deeper into the subject, a prime example came to my mind.

Back in 1984, I had been invited to attend the wedding of two close friends from the University of Delaware. I got to know them through the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter that met on campus, even though I was a Temple Owl and they were Delaware Blue Hens. I marked that Saturday on my calendar and was looking forward to a great day of fun and fellowship.

Then my phone rang. On the other end was a former classmate of mine at Pennsauken High School. While we were casual friends in school, I wouldn’t exactly call us “bosom buddies,” and after we both graduated, we saw even less of each other. Regardless, my fellow Pennsauken Indian was calling to ask me to serve as a groomsman in his upcoming wedding. And not just any groomsman, mind you, but to be his best man.

How could I say no, even though his wedding was scheduled for the same Saturday in June as my friends’ wedding in Delaware? And so, I made my apologies and drove out to Fulton County, Pennsylvania, battling a bad head cold the entire way.

Meanwhile, the pianist who was scheduled to play at the wedding felt uncomfortable playing the more contemporary Christian music that the bride and groom had requested, so she asked her granddaughter to fill in at the last minute. And that, my friends, is how I met – and fell in love with – Deanna Louise Truax, now my beautiful bride of 38 years.

I could tell you countless other stories of how God has intervened in my life, from a casual conversation with my uncle that steered me away from majoring in political science at Rutgers University to majoring in Sports Administration at St. John’s University… to another causal conversation with the Camden County Republican Party chairman that resulted in me running for Congress twice.

The point remains that we can map out our lives according to plan – down to the finest detail – but God always has the final say (see James 4:13-15).

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President