What’s the DDS? It may sound like a secret code or perhaps a secret organization, but it’s actually not secret at all. We can all join the club. In fact we probably already are part of the grand DDS!
The name for the DDS was created by my friend Mickey. The letters DDS stand for God’s Divine Delivery System, and Mickey, recognizing that God’s ways can be mysterious, believes that we are all part of that Divine Delivery System.
Have you ever felt as though you received a hug or a loving affirmation, a word that guided you or an opportunity that invited you–just when you most needed it? They came through the DDS! Was there a helping hand or an unexpected ‘coincidence’? That was because of the DDS, too.
All the people who offered the hug or the wise word or the invitation were part of the Divine Delivery System. They were all message carriers. You, too, are a part of the DDS. Although God’s presence and activity in our lives is indeed mysterious, Mickey believes that, if we truly desire to be a channel for God’s love and wisdom, we will be used. We may never even know how we contribute, but we will become part of the DDS web.
The DDS doesn’t always deliver perfect and clear messages. The messengers are human after all, and we live in a broken world. There have been times I haven’t responded to a Divine nudge. I felt called to offer a message of encouragement or comfort to someone, but somehow I never did it. And sometimes there was probably encouragement, support or guidance that a DDS messenger offered to me – and I was too busy or perhaps I was closed up and guarded, and I didn’t let it in.
One of my favorite delivery people has been Mickey herself. She is one of the most vibrant and loving persons I know in spite of having constant pain. At 95 years, she acknowledges that she knows only half dozen persons older than herself. She has, however, a host of younger friends, people whom she cares about deeply, relationships that she has nurtured through the years. She has a true gift for friendship, and she encourages us all in living full rich lives
One important wisdom this DDS messenger has delivered to me has been the understanding that I will be stronger and more whole when I have compassion for those who are bringing division and destruction to our country and communities. They are broken; they don’t know that they are beloved of God. “Try praying for their healing,” Mickey advises,” there’s no down side to prayer.” I’m not sure I can stretch to compassion, but I know bitterness, anger or cynicism don’t strengthen me to work for the healing we need within our country and communities. Perhaps compassion is worth a try.
I’ve also received DDS messages from Mickey about aging with grace and hope. It’s not easy! There is pain and loss and diminishment. She has experienced all of it, but she believes that, in some mysterious way, “all will be well,” as Julian of Norwich wrote six hundred years ago.
The Divine Delivery System has provided this message to all of us through Julian: All will be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. . . . . For there is a Force of Love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go.
These are words for the present troubled times. May we truly receive them and may they strengthen us to live in hope.
