We Make Plans and God Laughs

Last night as I was sitting in bed, my pup Thunder snoring down the house on my lap, re-re-re-reading one of my favorite books, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I came across this quote from Tibby, one of the main characters: “We make plans, and God just laughs.” My immediate thought was “Ha! Isn’t that the truth.”

In fact, when it comes right down to it, I am a regular old Seinfeld. I would venture a guess that I’ve had the good Lord pee-his-robe, six-pack-ab-inducing, tears-streaming-down-his-face, ROTCL (rolling on the clouds laughing) on many an occasion. You see, I am a planner. I have been and probably always will be to some extent. I like having a course of action, an idea of where my life is going, or at the very least, something to work towards.

I like having a goal.

I like knowing what’s going to happen.

I like knowing what’s going to happen.

HA!

This. This right here. This is the main punch line, the cause for all of the big man upstairs’ belly laughs.

As much as I would like to having everything mapped out, a clear direction plugged into my GPS telling me where I am supposed to go, how long it will take me to get there, and roadside assistance available for those times when I get lost (which I never, ever do. I just happen to prefer taking the scenic route. A lot), it doesn’t quite work that way.

They say (I still haven’t figured out who “they” are) that our lives are planned for us, even before we are born.  Each person  is given a purpose, their unique legacy if you will to pass on and leave for others to learn from, grow from, affect in some way. I’ve often wondered what my purpose is, or even the purpose of the events that have  happened to me in my lifetime. I know that I hope to be the very best daughter, sister, friend, wife and hopefully mother one day that I can be. I hope to inspire, encourage, and provide a source of strength and courage to those who may need it the most.  I also know that with everything that has happened in my 26 years of life, everything that has yet to happen–good, bad, and everything in between–there is always a lesson for me to learn. I sometimes wonder though…how many lessons can one person possibly learn?

That’s when it dawned on me. Until I have learned the lesson that I’m supposed to learn, obstacles will continue to be put in front of me. It’s all part of God’s plan for me. And as much as I would like to sometimes, I can’t mess with that plan. I have no idea what is in store for me. I do know however that it took me a long time to figure out that where I am, is where I’m supposed to be.  I will always continue to try to improve my situation, but isn’t that all part of the lesson, all part of the plan?

Life isn’t meant to be easy. It was meant to be full of roadblocks, potholes, and flat tires. Life will challenge you, take you out of your comfort zone, and try and break you. Life will take your plan and sneeze all over it.

But you want to know something else? Life is also meant to be fun, exciting, and unpredictable. If you are lucky, you will presented with opportunities to grow, to laugh, to  love.

It’s a good thing each of us has the most reliable, unyielding, and loving GPS (Godly Positioning System) that is with us wherever we go.

I guess sometimes we just have to throw our plans out the window, put the top down, and let God do the driving.

I may not know what my plan is, where I am going, or when I will get there, but I do know that everything that has led me to this point is only preparing me for one heck of a road trip, one pretty amazing destination.

From now on, I think I will try and let Seinfeld do the joke-telling. 😉