What an odd situation in which I’ve found myself. Divine providence provides for me to exist. He provided for me to be born into 21st-century America, and for me to attend college. He provided for me to be hungry at 1:30 AM, and for me to find a 24-hour Burger King, and for them to mess up my burger.
I’m grateful. I’m always looking for things to offer up for my Special Intention. But for some reason (perhaps because it is now 2:30 AM), I’m searching for deeper meaning in my unappealing, smelly, pickle-laden sandwich. I’m struck that there was something within me, either some small void needing to be filled or some barnacle-like sinful tendency, that is resolved by a burger with pickles, mustard, and tomato when I wanted lettuce and ketchup only. And all of the myriad details throughout all of history had to go just so – to provide for me to be hungry, go to that particular Burger King, and get a messed-up order.
Wow, God. Wow.
The blog Disputations has an insightful entry related to the providence of suffering. I also heartily recommend Dr. Peter Kreeft’s talk on suffering (and all his other talks. And writings. And books.).
(Incidentally, once the hazardous materials were removed, the burger was decent. Alleluia.)