sailing

Rarely do my days work out quite like I planned.

Another way of saying that life is full of surprises, I guess. Which means it's never boring, of course!

Not that I mind. It just means I'm always working hard at flexibility. Adjusting my plans on the spot. Learning to live in step with the Lord.

I used to be a pretty 'regimented' sort of guy. I'd like to have things organised and hated interruptions to my plans. That kind of threw everything.

Now I see it all as part of the dance of life. Part of the great adventure of being out on the seas of God's purposes and powered by the wind of God's Spirit.

'You don't know where it's going', Jesus once said. And most of the time I don't. I don't know where the Spirit will be leading me through any day. I take it as it comes.

I'm glad to be sailing! A whole new way of life.

Anyway, my plans for today had centred on my setting aside the morning for some concentrated time with God. Preparing the message for each of Sunday's services.

The last Sunday in the year. I sensed the Lord had something of significance to say. Well, he always does, of course. I don't mean it like that! But something on this Sunday which would sort of set the seal on all this past year's held. That sort of thing.

My best laid plans got well and truly 'ganged astray' (to mangle the noted poet!).

So much for a morning of preparation. I got a call quite early on from someone I'd anticipated seeing next week. But that wasn't going to work and so it ended up being this morning.

It was good to have the chance to chat things through. About the future, I guess. God's future here. Talking sometimes clarifies. 'Iron sharpens iron', as the writer of the Proverbs used to say.

And this was one of those times. My mind being gently sharpened. The way ahead becoming just that little bit more clear.

By the time we were done and I'd seen another friend who'd called about a different sort of matter .. well, there wasn't any morning left!

The day just turned entirely upside down. A helpful reminder that that's the way God works. He turns things upside down (or right way up, more properly!).

Jesus was absolutely right. I don't know where it's going half the time. But he does. And I guess that's all that matters!

And by the time the day was done I'd found myself excited by the word the Lord was giving for this coming Sunday night.

It's often not the route I'd planned, but he gets me there in the end of the day!