Have you ever heard of a "Happening"? They are an art event that has some aspects planned, but often with room for improvisation & audience participation. They also usually involve multiple art forms. Happenings sound like an amazing experience. However, I'm a bit of a control freak...and would struggle as an artist to give up that control and embrace the moment which could yield unprecedented artistic expression & creativity. There are so many factors that go into a Happening..location, other artists, audience participation, and the strength of the original idea. One or more of these factors could throw the whole plan off it's original track. However, that is what makes a Happening exciting...they may not turn out how you planned...but could be even better than you imagined.
Not being "flexible" can keep me from experiencing the blessings of faith as well. I have an idea of what God wants to do...and how I think He wants accomplish it. However, when it doesn't work out how I thought it should...I'm ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man down before Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
Luke 5:18-20
The full story can be found at Luke 5:17-26. The men who carried the man on the bed were on a mission. They knew if they could just get to Jesus...that He would be able to help. Their plan was derailed a bit by the crowd that surrounded the Lord...which made it "impossible" to reach Him. I wonder what went through their minds when they were so close..yet unable to reach Jesus. I know I would have been the first one to say..."WELL, WE TRIED GUYS! GUESS WE NEED TO TURN BACK & GO HOME. OUR PLAN JUST WON'T WORK. IT WAS A GOOD TRY THOUGH." Somehow they were able to see past the conventional way of reaching the Lord, and put their faith into action. They knew their mission...and they were going to see it through till the end...even if it didn't look like what they originally thought it would. I really would have loved to have seen/heard the reaction of the men who carried the man, the man on the bed, the people who surrounded Jesus, and Jesus...as they lowered him down through the hole in the roof! ha ha
They embraced the moment..and their faith was rewarded! Things didn't happen like they thought they would, but they happened just as they needed to happen for God to be glorified! We often forget this aspect of events. Does it bring glory to the Father & draw us closer in our relationship with Him? If things always happen as we plan/expect do we ever develop the faith needed to live the life God has planned for us?!?!
Dear Jesus...
Let me embrace the HAPPENINGS of my life.
May I keep the mission before me, but allow the
events to turn out as they need
to in order to bring you the most glory...
and to draw me into a deeper/richer relationship with you.
In Christ's Name
AMEN
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