February 9, 2008 @ 4:11 am | Filed under: Soul Food

“How did it go?”

A friend of mine called early this morning to tell me about the event she hosted last night for the pre-teen girls in her class. We had been brainstorming over this particular night for a while now and I was excited to hear all the details.

“I don’t know.” There was a definitely hesitancy in her voice, but also a little tremor of excitement. “Good, I think. But it went nothing like I expected. My plan? Straight out the window. It seemed like God kept moving me in a different direction.”

On my end, I was smiling as she talked. I could so relate. I thought back to the past several days, when I had journaled on more than one occasion almost the exact same thing. As I settled in to listen to her account of last night, I couldn’t help but wonder:

Just how many people are experiencing this same thing right now?

A few days ago I was skimming quickly through a news magazine, trying to catch up on any major headlines and current events. On one of the last pages, tucked between an article about the current reigning Miss America and details about the upcoming Grammy Awards, was a single-page article that still has me thinking about it today – almost a week later.

It detailed the story of how one forty-year-old man left a high-paying position in a prestigious field over a decade ago in order to fulfill what he felt like was the “next step” in his life, forming a nonprofit organization that repairs and then donates used cars for low-income individuals. During the years he worked at establishing this project, he took a job at a local bakery to support his wife and three children.

Now the nonprofit organization has multiple locations and has provided reliable transportation for over 3,000 individuals to date, enabling many of them to come off of welfare. When asked how he felt about being considered a visionary, his answer was low-key and matter of fact.

It was this answer that still resounds in my heart.

Stating that he has now been able to turn over most of the duties and responsibilities of this organization to capable people, he has, in turn, moved on to another new project—a life-mentoring program for the poor. “I always feel the answers are right in front of me.”

I’m thinking that God is doing an amazing global thing. Think of what could happen if we all tossed our ‘plans’ out the window and truly let Him lead us from one step to the next.

What mighty things would be accomplished if we stepped out into those waters over our head knowing nothing more than He will put any answers we may need right in front of us…WHEN it’s time for them?