Preparations

There are a lot of things we prepare for in life. Births, deaths, parties, graduations, promotions, career changes, moving, vacations, engagements... pretty much any major (or minor) change in life requires preparation. I have to confess I am not a very prepared person. I usually rush into things only to realize later, ah I forgot the toothpaste again.

My mom however, is a master of preparations. She somehow manages to pack everything she needs plus everything you're forgetting, plus the "just in case" stuff. Whenever a vacation was imminent, during my childhood, out would come her purple notebook. A seemingly normal, spiral notebook (college rule) but, the inside of that notebook was anything but normal. That simple book held the battle plans for the entire event. Written in whatever color pen was nearby at the time she would stand at the kitchen table and plan. Packing lists, menus, schedules, to-do's, it all went into the book. And somehow during the weeks preceding the trip it all would come together. Now, my mother would be the first one to tell you it wasn't as simple as that. That there were hours of effort that make those words reality and that there was sleep lost and moments of indecision or times when it seemed that only a miracle would bring all those things into being at the appointed hour. But, when the right moment came everything would be ready.

As I prepare for this Australia trip I can't help but wonder how long God has been preparing me for this moment. How many lists he made in his cosmic notebook (college rule, I'm sure). I think there's probably even been things that looked impossible that needed to come together, and by His grace they have. I think of that and somehow this is all easier to handle. All my lists, scattered on random post-it's and scraps. The boxes and suite cases the loss of sleep and the millions of emails (thank you Uncle Cliff). Everything I'm doing to make this trip happen is just the end of a long awaited process and not even the end it's just a point in the process of God making me who he wants me to be.

I'm sure that not all of you are packing suite cases for Australia (if you are let me know and we can have coffee in Alice one day!) but I know that each of you has a purpose and a next step with God. But, don't think it's a surprise to Him. He has been preparing since before time and He will be the one that sees you through. So trust His preparations from the past will hold, today and tomorrow, wherever He leads you. Oh, and don't forget to pack your toothpaste!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Happy Packing,

Shannon