I don’t know much about boating and even less about sailing, but I think the phrase “smooth sailing” is probably overused. In my experience, the very idea of smooth sailing is unrealistic. Plus, I am in a position to see the state of the Atlantic Ocean on most days, and I can assure you it is very rarely smooth.

Life too is rarely smooth. There are minor hiccups and major roadblocks along almost every path. Instead, the expression “there’s always something” is more apt. Just yesterday, I was driving across the state of Florida for an event with old friends that had been on the books for months. When I stopped to fill up my car before the Alligator Alley portion of the trip, my car started acting crazy. The “check engine” light came on (with a multitude of others) and it went into some “power reduced” mode where you can do 0 to 60 in about three miles. I was determined to stick to the plan, but eventually cried Uncle and headed for home. All told, it was a 4.5 hour drive to nowhere.

Last week, our A/C wasn’t keeping up, and it’s not exactly peak heat here in Florida. We used to have a service contract with an HVAC company, but it was sold a couple years ago, and so our upkeep has slacked off to merely changing the filter. Much like taking my car in this morning, I cringed to learn what was going on. The technician was a joyful kid who could have easily passed for sixteen. He told me that he had replaced the “capacitor,” and that the A/C seemed to be working just fine now. I was kind of horrified. The capacitor? That sounds expensive, I thought. Shouldn’t he have asked me before he did that? But then he followed with the magic words: it is under warranty. It never occurred to me that I would hear those words when the unit was replaced more than five years ago and the company that installed it was sold.

These are trivial things in the grand scheme of life, but I think the lesson is an important one. A certain way may seem right to us, but the Lord directs our steps. I don’t know why exactly my plan to be in Fort Myers today was thwarted, although to be honest I have a couple ideas. But I think sometimes we benefit from the reminder to stay supple. He is the Potter. We are the clay. It’s never a good thing when we stubbornly demand our own way. Instead we are blessed when we are yielded — surrendered to His plan. That doesn’t mean we don’t make plans. It means when He redirects we don’t fight it.

Maybe the most magical words of all are “[N]ot my will, but Yours.” Luke 22:42b.

Blessings,

Kristie