May 24, 2009 2
Gratefulness When God Changes Our Plans
One day I was all set to mow the lawn first thing in the morning. I had the day mapped out: mow the lawn, shower, pick up food at the co-op, and then do some writing and laundry.
With work clothes on and boots laced up, I stuck my hand out to check on the temperature. My hand came in wet. The heavens had opened up, and my day was thrown off course.
It’s funny, I felt a bit aimless, wandering around the house after that. What should I do now? I didn’t want to shower before mowing, the store wouldn’t open until later, and I wasn’t in much of a mood to write.
I slipped into default mode and checked my e-mail. After puttering around on the computer, I realized that God had actually given me a gift.
I just wasn’t interested in taking it.
I had an opportunity for rest, for worship, and for a time of peace and quiet.
Sometimes we determine our value, worth, and success by our accomplishments. We don’t view rest and recreation as an accomplishment, as fulfilling a part of a goal. Our checklists take over, and we forget that setting our checklists aside is every bit as important as marking off the next task.
As a Christian, I worship and serve a God who values rest. It’s not just good business or healthy living—rest is built into the human spirit. We are made in the image of a God who rests, who walks in the garden in the cool of the evening, who reminds us that building bigger and better towers won’t bring us any closer to God or one another.
Sometimes God’s grace comes in the rain that disrupts our plans.
