if you've ever lived out of a suitcase, you probably agree that it isn't the most comfortable way to enjoy a trip away from (or in my case, to) home. especially when that bag has been precisely packed and weighed, with the smallest yet heaviest items in the carry-on (which has to be small, but doesn't get weighed), and the larger, more fluffy items in the checked bag (the only one you're permitted, might i add; that has a ton of room, but a weight limit you've already exceeded). every item has been folded, rolled, or stuffed in a specific spot not to throw the balance or weight distribution in the slightest. i managed to pack every combination of shirts/shorts/capris and sandals so that each can be mix-matched for their maximum utility and minimum laundry and space consumption. i packed every which way til Sunday. i had meticulously created lists and packed for days before leaving. i thought i had every angle covered: teach. beach. sleep. market. even dress up. what i didn't see coming was that i packed for the four-month forecast of 95 and rainy; and what i've got is a spare week of 50s and wind.
Man's heart plans his steps, but the Lord directs his path (Proverbs 16:9)
i think this serves far more relevance than just packing. i'm talking preparation on a much grander level.
we can plan and organize and pack and prepare 'til our heart's content, but all of that is thrown out that summer window when God's path leads us on a little detour, or even an unexpected adventure. but it doesn't come as a surprise to Him. our plans and His sometimes don't align. Often times, they don't even speak the same language. We think we've got it all covered, but then God throws a curveball by way of a what-if-we're-not-talking-about-Haiti pitch, and we're standing at the plate completely bewildered. we've been preparing for something even in committing our work to the Lord (16:3) and something goes invariably different than expected. He, for whatever reason, can, and often will, change our weather-- or thoughts, beliefs, actions, opportunity, or situation-- and we are left deciding how to respond.
we can choose to just not go outside in the unseasonably cool florida winter, or we can outfit ourselves using what we've planned, prepared for, or packed. so, i've learned to improvise. no one hardly noticed that i re-wore my teal g. harv. shirt today when its out-at-sea silhouette was hidden underneath my staple navy cardigan, which was also a re-wear ... along with the only pair of jeans i've brought. okay, so i've worn that long, flowy, red jersey dress two days in a row. its called, versatility. i've learned that the jeans may not be the trendiest way, but they are faithful and i know they will cut the chill. and simple staple tee's can be layered with truth and faithfulness, wrapped in an open-mind and flexibility.
above all, the Lord is faithful. even when we feel that we've packed for the wrong weather, we are able to see that even through the (ill-fit) planning, he prepared us with the know-how to mix-and-match to make it work. afterall, he's not going to lead us into snow in flip-flops alone.
