Mirror Mystery
The morning after Rich and I arrived at our rented vacation cabin in Point Arena, we set out for the “big town” of Fort Bragg to stock the pantry and refrigerator. At the supermarket I looked for a small mirror. I wanted one to carry in my purse.
The store offered a mirror, priced at $6.99. Encased in muddy maroon plastic, it carried a negative net aesthetic value. But it was the only mirror available and I needed a mirror, so I tossed it into the cart.
Back at our cabin we stowed our purchases. The mirror was not among them. I searched the plastic bags we’d tossed in the recycling bin under the sink. It hadn’t been overlooked. I pulled out the receipt and scanned the list.
We hadn’t paid for the mirror. Somehow, it never made it from cart to conveyer belt.
Through the week, whenever we found ourselves browsing in the small shops in the seaside villages of the Mendocino Coast, I looked, vainly, for a mirror. No mirror was to be had.
Five days later we drove north to Eureka for an overnight visit. On our way, we passed through Fort Bragg. “There’s a drug store,” Rich said. “Do you want to stop and pick up a mirror?”
“It’s okay,” I answered. “Let’s just keep going.”
Our first stop in the Eureka area was in the town of Ferndale. We parked the car and embarked on a walking tour of the town’s Victorian Main Street. We’d parked in front of the Ferndale Emporium, so we wandered into the shop to poke around.
Inside the store I found a pocket mirror. Covered in a teal and black metallic zebra print, it bore a fanciful image of a woman. Dressed in an ensemble of polka dots, stripes and a floral print, she sported big flashy earrings. Her red mane obscured her right eye. Her blouse was tied about her waist, exposing her belly button. I would never dress in such a manner–but I could carry this whimsical fashionista in my purse.
I turned the mirror over to determine its price: $6.95. I could acquire this amusing mirror for no more than the drab mirror would have cost, had it not disappeared from our shopping basket.
The mirror reminds me that nothing I desire is too small for God’s attention. It helps me remember to trust in Him not only for important matters, for small things, too.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him, and He will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for Him to act.
Psalm 37:3-7 (NLT)
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