Wednesday, April 14, 2010

11yr old Asperger's Girl Found!

So many of us across the nation held our breath, praying for a good outcome for this situation.

What wonderful news to hear that 11 yr old Nadia Bloom was found in good condition, and returned safe and happy to be with her family.

As a person of faith, I'm often curious and intentional about looking at what God might be speaking to us as we move through the commonplace news and activities of our days. Something in the media reports was particularly intriguing to me and I believe it might be to you as well.

I've had a rough year or so as an Asperger's individual with both financial and health issues (see my much-procrastinated-over blog on invisible illness http://invisibleids.blogspot.com/2010/04/no.html ).

So when the mainstream media is reporting on a direct answer to prayer regarding the recovery of this little girl, I found myself wondering why her rescuer's statements would so utterly captivate CNN's newsroom editors.

James King, a member of the Bloom family's church, set out this morning with a singular purpose in his mind. King told reporters that he "prayed for direction from God" asking for the utmost miracle, to find Nadia in a mucky, gator-infested swamp.

King went on to say he felt impressed that he should go in a particular direction, not wavering from that sense even when the trail led him into murky swampwater.

"Working alone King was able to do what scores of trained officers, divers and a specially equipped helicopter could not," CNN's David Mattingly reported.

HLN's breaking news banner broadcast this on the crawl: 'God "led me directly to Nadia", Florida rescuer says'.

After seeing this news piece, I wondered about Nadia's name. I felt like God whispered to me..."check this out--there's a message here for those who will hear it."

The meaning of her name? Nadia is of french derivation: hope or hopeful.

Hope blooms.

Frankly folks, I needed this message today.

I'm dealing with loss and struggle in a multitude of directions.

A predatory lender is manipulating my mortgage and threatening us with foreclosure action.

I am uninsured, with a chronic immune illness and unable to see specialists who could really treat this and get me in a better place healthwise.

My Asperger's husband continues to be classically immature in his developmental skill-base...barely navigating the shallow waters of learning to network for a job (he's been unemployed for 10 years) while I work 3-4 part-time jobs to try to keep us afloat.

But hope blooms!

Later this afternoon in a follow up report, Nadia's mother reflected on the events her daughter shared about.

"Nadia prayed, and she was quoting scripture. She repeated Proverbs 3:5-6 over and over."

Her rescuer was praying too, and speaking bible verses as he moved in desperate pursuit of the missing girl.

One reporter inquired about the verses he was quoting. His answer?

Proverbs 3:5-6.

I get the message Lord...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. Commit all your ways to the Lord, and He will direct your path." Prov. 3:5-6