Who is in charge here?

      I am sure many of you have the same thought as I: Wow, what a year! Or was it: Whew, what a year?

Over the past few years, Beth’s family has had a fun tradition. Beth’s dad comes up with a variety of topics and everyone submits their predictions. At the end of the year, he awards a prize to the winner. I rarely do very well. My ability to predict the future is extremely limited. Last January, had I attempted to predict what would happen in 2010, I would have been nowhere close. 

      I think there is a simple reason we can't predict the future -- we are not in charge! That seems plainly clear to me as I look back. I go back to the story of the angel telling Mary what is about to happen to her. It all must have sounded so absurd and scary. So I thought I'd try to write what an angel might have said to me last January.

Your family will grow. (Go on, tell me more)

You will meet a girl and she will capture your heart. (Sounds like trouble)

You will become more united with your wife. (How does this fit with the previous?)

Your relationship with your children will grow.

You will become a full time teacher and have your own classroom before finishing your degree (What happened to one step at a time?)

You will face new challenges. (I'm not so sure I'm done with my current challenges)

You will be called to a new church. (I’m listening)

You will attend funerals and weddings. (Do I get to pick?)

You will learn to get by on less sleep and do more. (Not again)

You will have to document your life and present it to people in strange lands.  (huh?)

You will learn more of the needs of God's children around the world. 

You and your wife will raise more than $15,000 for a very worthy cause. (You are kidding me, right? I don't do fundraising, remember?)

You will be challenged to do more than you think can be done.

      Had I been presented with the above, I don't think I would have responded as well as Mary and Joseph did with their amazing news. Instead, I likely would have annoyed the messenger with my questions and comments and received some sort of curse. Then I would have fallen into worry and despair. How is this all possible? I'm already doing as much as I can. (Do angels ever say you are going sailing to a beach in the Caribbean?)

      While I may still try to foresee what the future holds, sometimes it is really better to not know. Looking back, I don’t see where I would change anything!  It’s all good.

      Do yourself a favor and never try to tell God you are doing as much as you can. He will reply, "My grace is sufficient for you,” and He will prove you wrong.

     I sometimes wonder if there is anything I should not be doing, but it is all good, so I will keep at it, trying my best to do what I’ve been called to do. So let the adventures continue! I look forward to sharing more adventures with you in this new year, new decade!

We are waiting for an invitation from Latvia. We are told this may take some time. Good thing I'm not in charge :-)

Kirk

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