There is an old saying: “man proposes and God disposes.” As I woke up this morning, I was reminded of how much God is in charge of everything we do.
Yesterday I left the pilgrimage at Lourdes to return home to the United States, in order to travel to Colombia this morning to visit one of the priests of the Diocese who underwent two extensive and serious back surgeries. He is recuperating with his mother and family to assist him. The pilgrimage at Lourdes was a beautiful, inspiring and reflective time for me which I did not wish to leave. However, I knew that I needed to visit my priest, in order to give him support and to see firsthand how he felt.
During the journey back, I began to show the symptoms of a cold. While not making much of it, I noticed that the symptoms began to get worse as I readied for bed. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning at 4:00 AM, in order to get ready to go to the airport, I felt feverish and discovered that I had a fever of 100.2. As a result, I had no choice but to postpone my visit to Colombia, remaining here to make sure that my fever does not get any worse.
I guess what I proposed was not what God envisioned. I know that this time alone will give me a precious opportunity to reflect upon the graces I received from Lourdes. It will also afford me time to reflect upon the fact that God is in charge of my life, not me, and to learn ever more deeply to imitate Our Lady in all things.
By: Bishop Frank Caggiano
