Wrong For Years
Because I need LOTS of light, I bought yet another lamp. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a floor lamp that I didn’t have to assemble. I don’t think I ever ended up with a lamp that didn’t have at least one section screwed in wrong resulting in a lamp that sits as wonkerjawed as a dining table in some cheap restaurant.
I assembled my new acquisition in a totally different order. Instead of starting from the foundational bottom and attaching each consecutive rod to the top, I started building the lamp from the top down. Each piece went onto the previous section as straight as could be! Perhaps I was going more slowly than I had ever done or the product was more carefully made, but it turned out perfectly. Perhaps I had been doing it wrong all these years!
This morning, a friend asked a thought provoking question. ‘What would you say to your 21 year old self?’ As I had 2 more years of college left at that time, I glibly answered, ‘I would have changed my major from music education to journalism.’
I rethought my answer all day. I decided I’ve had a mistaken perception all these years.
Back in the day, many girls were herded toward teaching or nursing. I always resented being led that direction. I was too naïve to be a journalist. I wasn’t as experienced as a tough reporter had to be.
Or so I was told.
As I reflected on my past, I realized God has known my heart all along. I do have a gentle spirit. I am not tough. Sometimes I’m as spicy as those reporters on television as they recap the day’s news, but only on paper. Not exactly spineless, but definitely not tough enough to seek out stories that would entail confronting all sorts of wickedness in the world. After all, that’s 99% of the news.
I realized my joy is being with little ones. Had I not taught elementary music early on, I wouldn’t have passed on the songs to my own children. Our family wouldn’t have been labeled ‘the family most likely to break out in song.’ I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to direct children’s musicals through the years. I wouldn’t have written and directed my original musicals.
Focusing on the world’s troubles or delighting in the innocence and unbridled joy of little people? No brainer!
God sees the true desires of my heart even if I don’t. I learned long ago, ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’
Since I believe the eternal, all powerful Creator God cares for me, I can accept verses like Proverbs 16:9, ‘The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. And Proverbs 19:21, ‘Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.’
Sometimes it takes a conversation like today’s to see the truth of Romans 8:28. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.’ NKJV
May I fulfill His purpose for my life and one day hear the precious words that I have been a good and faithful servant and I am invited into the joyful presence of my Lord.
Blessings
Kara Beth
