Just a few days back I had a very bad experience in the new city where we have recently shifted and were trying to settle down in the midst of water problems, language problems etc.
One night when out of city, we were shocked to receive a phone call from our landlord that our house has been broken into. It was unbelievable since we are living in a locality where the houses are very close by and the landlord was staying upstairs. Earlier when we were in our native state we always had anticipated theft because we lived in a separate lonely house but nothing happened. And here in a crowded place with people around it was so easy for the thief to break the lock and come into the house.
So we had to return back immediately. The return journey was with a heavy heart with so many thoughts crowding our mind. One thought that came to me was “why did God allow it?” I know that our God who is sovereign takes care of us, protects us and sustains our lives. So “why Lord” was my question.
As we entered our house. I felt sick to see the bed room in a mess. All the clothes were on the floor. The Godrej stood empty the shelves on the wall were disheveled. All the things were on the floor. The suitcases were lying open; the jewelry box was lying on the bed. The trunk carrying the summer wear and blankets was invaded.
Without any doubt I knew that the gold earring and the chain were gone and also the money which was to be given to the landlord, some cash for publishing a magazine, a small saving which I was supposed to put in the bank but was delayed due to the puja holidays. Everything was gone in a whisk! I was very sad and tears welled up in my eyes.
Soon sorrow was replaced by anger, but as I walked to the other room inspecting the other things which could have been stolen, I realized that except for the cash and gold everything else was in tact. That was very puzzling. Why did the thief leave behind, the laptop, DVD player, LCD, music system which could fetch him a nice amount of money?
Well, I still don’t have the answer. A new thought began to shape in my mind. Perhaps the thief was in real need and so he broke in and took the money which he needed. If so, may God bless him and help him out in the financial crises.
Later as we cleaned up the house I began to think about the consequences if we would have been in the house when the thief broke in. Just a few days ago I was alone in the house at night. What if the thief would have come then?
Gradually, I tried to see the positive side of this mishap. Both I and my husband are safe. Of course we lost cash but we can still work hard to earn some more. The other good thing that I realized is that the thief did not take any valuable things which would have been a far greater loss.
Now as I enter our house, I feel as though some one might be hiding under the bed, or staring at me from outside the window. It feels very awkward since we lost the sense of security in the house.
Yet I know that trusting God and being more cautious is the only thing that I can do.
The silver lining that I see is that in spite of the loss God has protected our lives and restrained the thief from causing us more damage.
I never had this experience before and in a new place it is all the more painful and we feel lonely and hurt. But it is nice to go through situations which can teach us patience, courage in the face of crisis, and a heart to be thankful in all circumstances.
As we go on in our daily life, I remember the character of Job in the Bible who while going through intense personal struggle and family crisis responded like this, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”
