on plans

I'm convinced more and more that I should just never make plans. Or at least when I do make plans, I need to write in pencil. Because it seems as though my plans almost never match the reality of what God executes in my life. Or there are some pretty major differences. But you know what? It's ok. It's more than ok, because His ways are higher than mine, and He knows what He's doing. After all, He's got the whole world in His hands. I think He can handle my little life. And the best part is, His plans, no matter how similar or different than mine, are always better. Always. 

"Everything is interim. Everything is a path or a preparation for the next thing, and we never know what the next thing is. Life is like that, of course, twisty and surprising. But life with God is like that exponentially. We can dig in, make plans, write in stone, pretend we're not listening, but the voice of God has a way of being heard. It seeps in like smoke or vapor even when we've barred the door against any last-minute changes, and it moves us to different countries and different emotional territories and different ways of living. It keeps us moving and dancing and watching, and never lets us drop down into a life set on cruise control or a life ruled by remote control. Life with God is a daring dream, full of flashes and last-minute exits and generally all the things we've said we'll never do. And with the surprises comes great hope."
- Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines