Do angels Swear?

About a week ago, I was feeling overwhelmed with church stuff – cluster, small group, elders, mentoring, and shepherding. Wasn’t Jesus’ yoke supposed to be easy and his burden light? In a moment of discipleship fatigue, I cried out “Lord, please bring your kingdom to my world this week without me even being involved. Show me your power and capability to do this without me.” I then spent the week in anticipation – looking for God’s hand in “bringing his kingdom.”

Later in the week I was meeting a friend for coffee. He is going through a difficult time in his marriage, having been separated for 6 months, and I had been challenging him with the gospel – to love his wife as Christ loved the church – that uncommon unconditional supernatural love that only God can fuel. I knew that he had been challenged by and resistant to this message.

I arrived at the coffee shop first and ordered a drink. Seeing my friend’s car (let’s call him Bill) pulling in I said to the barista that I would pay for his too. There was an older woman off to the side at the counter apparently just “hanging out”. As Bill entered the cafe he called out his usual loud friendly greeting “hey Bro!” I asked him what he wanted. “A friend” he said promptly hanging a right and going down to the washroom. The three of us at the counter (myself, the barista and the older women) had a chuckle. “I’m not sure if you guys have those on the menu do you?” I said.

When Bill returned minutes later the older woman started talking to us about her “friend” that she had had for 53 years – her husband. Bill, always one to pursue conversation with strangers said “so what’s the secret to a successful marriage?” She started to list them – “Get along. Work on it. Hang in there through the good times and the bad.” (Exactly the words that Bill needed to hear). “That is so what we’re not going to be talking about” he said intimating his desire for an out in his marriage relationship. The conversation continued back and forth between them in rapid succession:

-“Are you married?”

- “For now”.

-“It’s like the vows say ‘to death do we part’ “

-“That can be arranged!”

-“Jesus....” she said shaking her head ripe with good natured exasperation ”... you know.... you guys....” (further head shaking).

She then wandered off to have coffee with her “friend” of 53 years and we sat down to our drinks and conversation. I wondered if this was how God had shown up. I couldn’t have scripted that gospel message introduction to our conversation better if I had tried. It truly was the heart of what Bill needed to hear. Bill kidded that she was “a plant”. I sat there marvelling at what God had done and wondering if she was an angel. But.... do angels swear?