Plans Unplanned

"There is a way that seems right to a man.
Destiny guided by his own hand.
But in the end, in spite of his dreams and planning,
there's no guarantee he'll be the last man standing."

Excerpt from "Lion of Judah" by Sweet Crystal
©2008 Nightcrier Music, Inc.

The lyrics here are from the next Sweet Crystal CD, currently in production.
The other day I heard Jan singing them (yup, she gets all the advanced copies of everything we do)
and I listened to what they were actually saying (I know - I wrote them. But sometimes I'm so close to the songs, I write them, I record them and I move on to the next one).

The plans we make - whether for our lives, our vacations, our jobs, our trip to the grocery store or just what we plan to say to that friend or coworker that has treated us wrong... how often does what we plan and what eventually transpires actually resemble each other?

Did I plan to be here, working at this job when I got to be this age?
Did I plan to have to worry about financial security or good health at any point in my life?
Did I plan what to have for dinner last night?

I know, that last one was a tad flippant but do you see my drift? It has become (sometimes painfully) clear that whatever
I plan - there is no guarantee that the outcome will be all that I want or even expect.

And that's a big question - why plan if life is just random and we are just here to be swept along by this worldly tide?

Luckily for me, I know there is indeed a Plan (capital P) for my life, and for your life, and for each and every life that has come before and that is to be. Each of us does indeed have a reason to be, a reason to expect great and glorious things for our lives and for those we touch. Want to know more? 

Who doesn't!

But that's a blog for another day...

hmm, wonder if I can post an audio clip of "Lion of Judah" here... there's a clue to the Plan in the next verse of that song.

Stay blessed, stay standing.
Q

Historical Reflections

Jan and I just returned from one of our most memorable vacations - a visit to Washington, DC.

In this time of national turmoil and personal hardship for many, visiting the site of our nation's capital and arguably one of the most powerful places on this planet seemed both timely and awe-inspiring.

Why? Because the history of our nation is so proudly displayed in the monuments and memorials that populate the area - and the lessons of our forefathers and sacrifices of all our heroes stand in stark contrast to the internal squabbles and politics that separate all of us on a daily basis. 

For Jan and I, there were tears and smiles as we toured the streets and stood in quiet contemplation of those who came before us.

Maybe it's because we are older now and appreciate all we've been blessed with that made this trip larger than life for us. Whatever the reasons, we all need to hold on to the truths that endure and rest on the shoulders of those warriors that gave so much that we could just stand there.

What can we do for them? Always remember, In God We Trust.

Stand blessed, stay standing.

Q

Changes

What's the saying? "The only thing constant is change"?

That's exactly what it feels like - every day brings challenges and changes, sometimes expected and welcome, more times out of the blue, confusing and disruptive to our routines and expectations.

How we handle these changes - or how they "handle" us - can make or break our spirits and steer us in directions we may not want to go.

This isn't news - this is life. 

But some of us (yours truly included) need a reminder that we have a foundation and a core belief mightier then the changes that confront us, and by standing on that foundation, we not only survive those changes but actually grow in faith and courage and in the end, emerge stronger for the experience.

But while we're going through it, OUCH!!!

Stay standing, stay blessed - I will too.

Q