I fell apart, lost it, and  was not going to take another step. I had planned my life, saw it clearly in vivid color in my mind’s eye. I  knew how many children, I was going to have  a boy, a girl, and a boy.  Well first I said ok God when I had a boy, and then another boy. I was willing to go with the flow, this was not my plan but ok. Then turned out the second boy became birth control, I decided no more children passing from this womb, it might be another boy. Wait, don’t go there I love my now men dearly. Had fun in our growing, we had more adventures than Peter Pan.  But, the second boy was a handful, a challenge to my spirit, so I decided to wave the white flag.

My plan, “my plan” I laugh at the thought of those two words. We think we are in charge of our life, making plans. Laying out blueprints of how and when things are going to happen.  Then a bump in the road happens and we fall apart. The way we pictured the event unfolding did not occur and we become upset. I hit that bump, yes, fell apart. Then not over night, no this was not like turning on a switch, or waving some magic wand. But, I was able to see a new light.  First, we need to understand we do not have that much control, there may be a heart’s desire, a vision of where we see ourselves. But, the plans have been set. Then, there are those moments, those times when God does not make us aware of the plan. Maybe, because we are being tested to see if we can handle things on the fly. Maybe we are being tested to see how flexible we can be on the run.

Why must life be a series of rigid plans and moments? "Married by 25, two children by 30." "C.E.O. by 26, married by 30." Sometimes life just doesn't line up the way your vision laid everything out. Who says that your vision was the best plan for you anyway?

The greatest vision, the most useful plan is to walk in Faith. To follow the path set before you. Yes, the road may not be the smoothest, or the path may not be the one which leads straight to the goal. However, you will never be given more than you can handle. Those obstacles placed on the path, use them for strength building. See the struggles as reasons for praise when you keep moving and make it to the other side.

 When we see that someone or some situation is not good for us, why do we continue to fight to keep that person or situation in our lives? Yet, those who love us, those who support us, we take for granted, and give very little attention. Those situations which we do not see as worthy of our time we tend to not give our best efforts. If we take the time to look deeply at what our human minds call “little moments” we may find those are the moments of our purpose.

Life is a Faith walk, a walk of belief in a God who holds the master plan for our lives. Walk in the knowing that things will work out the way they are meant to be. Know, God works things out for the good of those who believe, those who have faith.

So, understand that sometimes the "crap" you decided to pick up on your own needs to be kicked to the curb. The bad situations you have placed yourself in, kick rocks to those as well. If God says turn right, then turn right. Yes, you may try to look ahead and only see darkness. Turn right anyway, because you may just be staring at a door which is about to be opened.

     Blessings,  Rev. Theresa (McKinney-Lawrence) Harris