Favorite Thing No. 2 He Got This!

8. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

This morning, after dropping off kids at school, I made my typical trek to the coffee shop to fuel up, check email, and start the day.  What was very different about my routine, however, was a major mis-step, and fall.  I tend to pride myself on my athletic abilities, and my overwhelmingly superior coordination :).  As an athlete who competed on the college level in a sport demanding exceptional footwork (tennis), I have never had any problem competing, let alone WALKING!

Today, however, was a different story.  Upon driving up to the coffee shop and stepping out of my oversize, gas guzzling SUV, I went to plant my foot on the pavement.  Problem was, I did not bother to look down and did not notice the hole right were I was stepping.  Result…TAKEDOWN.  In very dramatic fashion, this once confident college athlete, four time MVP, and local club stud, was diminished to a fumbling, bumbling, and stumbling fool.  With that one wrong step, I wound up free falling in mid-air headed face first for the concrete.

Thankfully, in the nick of time, I realized what was happening and dropped my keys and cell phone and shot my hands underneath me and caught myself just before having a maximum impact face plant which would have caused significant damage to this pretty face.  Amazingly, despite all the weight falling with full force on my hands and wrists, I was left with little more than a few scratches on my palms and very little blood.  It could have been the end of my wrists as I think about it now.  That is not so say that my ego was not severely bruised, as the guy who was just getting out of his car next to me was watching with amused and totally unconcerned interest.  I am sure he was thinking, “I wish I had this one on camera.”

This little incident, which could have turned out much worse, appears to be well timed in light of the fact that today’s focus on My Favorite Things About God deals with God’s ability to work all things for good for those called according to His purposes (Romans 8).

One of the wondrous realities of walking intimately with God is the knowledge that He is able, willing, and ready to direct my path.  He is so concerned with my life that He has a plan for me, and desires that I find and walk in that plan (Jer 29:11).  We often forget the significance of God’s desire to bring us into a life lived in fullness.  We tend to view Him as the cosmic killjoy who is waiting to zap us.

In reality, God stands watching over us, not to harm or scold us, but rather, to direct us, protect us, lead us, and bless us.  AND, even when we take wrong turns or make major mis-steps along the way, ones which have the potential to wreck our bodies, minds and lives, God is there to pick us up, dust us off, heal our wounds, and set us back on His path to goodness.

Further, even when it looks as if the journey has taken us far off course, we can rest knowing that God has a plan in mind though we may not have the full picture.  This was certainly the case for Joseph, a kid with enormous potential, loved by his father, and uniquely called by God.  Joseph spent decades seemingly drifting off course, apparently being derailed from God’s plan.  But in the end…as the story tells us, “…all the world came to Joseph.”

This was also the case for Abraham, who being given a child of promise in his old age, was asked to trust God and lead that child to an early deathbed.  In light of the fact that the blessing of God which would beget an entire nation would come through this son, Isaac, Abe could not begin to imagine how God was working His plan in the midst of this request.  Yet, again, God showed up along the journey and provided in a way no one could foresee.

This is one of those favorite things about God we must all hang our hats upon.  He is the one upon which the plans of our lives rest.  In walking with Him we find that He always makes good on His promise to fulfill His plan for us.  And, even when we step off course, God is able to bring grace, mercy, and redirection to the journey.

He has us in His hands.  He works all things for good for those called to His purposes.  That’s a great thing!

Thanks be to God,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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