April 19

Day 36: Alterations

At this point, we're beginning to (be forced to) accept our present realities. We're adjusting to new rhythms and new platforms for communication and connection. Our travel plans, education plans and celebration plans are not happening, or happening different than planned.

I noticed two different social media posts. Younger people I know. Each got married yesterday. I saw how family members and friends dressed up and celebrated with them. Somehow. At a distance. Online. Strange.

These new married couples did get married. But their plans for the ceremony and the reception were altered. They're postponing their real wedding receptions for another time. Creative. And necessary.

We've all had our plans altered. Sometimes the alteration impacts our daily and weekly rhythms. And sometimes, things and events we've really looked forward to (or not) are now not happening, or happening online, or rescheduled to sometime in 2021. Or to a galaxy far far away (?)

Confession: I'm still not yet warm to the idea of "online retreats."

Proverbs 16:1 says, "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord."

A few verses later (v9) says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."

Obvious point. We all plan, and in making plans we assume two things:

Our plans will actually happen when and how planned, and

We are somehow in control of our respective futures.

Having just written this (and you having just read it) we can both see how ludicrous that line of reasoning is.

Even more to the point, look at what James says in 4:13-16...

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

I think we get it. But isn't it odd that we often think and live like we don't?

Maybe an alteration, a needed course-correct is in order.

Here, on a sunny and warmer Sunday morning, can we find ourselves grateful that we're out of bed and still breathing for yet another day? Our loved ones are still our loved ones? Such grace!

And while it's not at all wrong to hope and plan, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau