In October of 1982, Gleneva and I lived 10 miles from the city with our two young boys, who were five and three years old. We contemplated moving closer to my job in the city. Additionally, our son Paul was due to start taking the high school bus that year, and we felt it was not ideal for a 5-year-old. As a result, we decided to sell our first home.
The housing market was struggling due to high interest rates, making it difficult to sell homes. Auctioning houses was becoming a popular solution. I consulted with a reputable Auctioneer and Realtor who offered a reasonable auction price. There was no cost to me if the house didn’t sell, so I agreed to the price and signed the contract. After some advertising, the auction day arrived.
I remember that day vividly. A handful of men turned up for the sale. The bidding started low, with three or four bidders initially, but as the price increased, only two remained. It was down to two neighbors: a young man and a father bidding on behalf of his absent son. When the bidding halted, the young man withdrew, leaving the house at a price that didn’t account for my work.
During a coffee break, I prayed for guidance and then suggested to the young man that perhaps his father could help him buy the house, possibly a partnership. After the break, the auctioneer resumed, and with a prompt to the father, the bidding war reignited, now between two fathers aiming to buy for their sons.
The father and son duo present at the auction won. That evening, the neighbor and his son returned to place a deposit, to be finalized at the bank on Monday. As he toured the house, he repeatedly expressed his bewilderment at his purchase. The father repeatedly questioned, “Why did I buy this?”
I will say, the day before the auction the father and son came over to the house and offered to purchase it for $7000. less. I said no, we will see who turns out tomorrow. I truly believed God would come through. To conclude, it was indeed a divine moment. The house sold for $7,000 more than my initial asking price.
Experienced by Paul V. Lundmark
Share Life Ministries 