Timelytidbits’s Weblog

This was the very last line the in movie “Dan In Real Life.”  There are excellent movies that you must watch and there are movies you should absolutely avoid.  “Dan in Real Life” is somewhere in the middle.  It is a sweet movie about columnist Dan Burns.  Widower of three daughters (ages 10 to 17) who on an extended family vacation meets and falls in love with his brother’s girlfriend.  You can imagine the problems and situations.  It was entertaining and would be a good film to see with my teen daughter because it might help us both realize that we are human.

It was the last line that really struck me, especially after writing yesterday’s blog.  It is said that life is what happens while we are making our plans.  I am afraid that one could get the idea from what I wrote yesterday that its all about us.  About our dreams and our efforts to make those dreams happen.  And in truth I do believe its our dreams that set the direction and gives us meaning and purpose to our lives.  But there is an ingredient that I forgot to mention yesterday that I need to highlight today.  GOD! 

This life is not about what we want but about what we need and God’s plans.  There is no one who knows us better then God.  Not even us.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”   Matthew 10:29-31

Life is not about what we want but what we need.  We know what we want and if we get real quiet and listen well we might even figure out what we need.  God knows with certitude and provides for them is a great number of ways.  And they often arrive as unexpected surprises.  A new job opportunity that provides experiences you only dream of.  A new friendship that challenges you to greater heights.  Yes, even the closing of a store or the ending of a marriage.  I don’t believe these were orchastrated by God but provide opportunities that weren’t there before.

We are coming to the end of the Easter Season.  As we look back we see a God who loves and heals us; a God who walks with us and shepherds us beyond our fears; a God who is willing to sacrifice everything to get our attention — even if it meant his life.  As we look forward we see that next Sunday we will celebrate that God empowers us with His very spirit to be more, give more, dream more.  But if we attend only to our agenda then we will miss the boat.  Plan for surprises.  Be open to surprises.  Those are the open doors and windows we are called through when something we were planning fails.  I remain, your servant in Christ, 

Theresa