
Why are we surprised when God intervenes? Why do we like to chalk it up as a coincidence? It’s easy to forget that God is involved in the little things as well as the big things in life.
Recently we received a referral to a man who is both deaf and blind. My first thought was, “Oh my, this could be difficult.” Before this referral, a young man named Paul Armani had told me he’d like to volunteer. We followed the VIA process and got Paul signed up. In the meantime, I visited the deaf and blind man. I learned that he regularly shopped at a specific Safeway store — the very store where Paul had previously worked for several years. I mentioned Paul’s name, and the gentleman described him and said, “He used to help me at Safeway!”
You can guess the rest of the story: Both men remembered each other and have now become volunteer and friend. The friend is elated and Paul is content with serving, so it’s a “win-win.”
Some of you are mulling over the question, How do they communicate?” God has provided humans with the ability to design incredible technical devices to assist the blind and deaf. In this case, since our friend hasn’t been deaf since birth, his speech is excellent and the device which connects to his ear and head allows vocal communication to take place.
What an awesome God we SERVE!!