Planning

I'm a planner. I think usually it's a good thing. I like to make lists, draw up "blue"prints, make schedules, write down goals . . . And many times I find myself frustrated that nothing (meaning my plans) gets done.

Then this morning, it struck me that I never put weeds into my garden plans. I mean, I draw up this planting plan that includes the hostas, the pink flowers that coordinate with the white flowers and look for foliage that will carry through the season, but, I never draw in the quackgrass or nettles or stinkweed that invariably finds my flower bed.

That led me to think of the other things I plan that have their own set of "weeds" in their reality. You know, the house project that on paper looks like a week's job and turns out to be 10 (weeks that is). Or scheduling an outdoor photo shoot, hoping for that perfect day only to have it be overly sunny and so windy that you can hardly stand up. Oh, sure we can factor these things into our plans but somehow we are disappointed when those factors play out. Or when reality isn't quite as neat as our little lists and drawing boards.

This reality sort of bugs me a little - probably because I like control and yet know deep down that I don't really have that much control over much of anything. See, control is an illusion. I get that. So how do you reconcile this discrepancy between plans and reality?

Well, I can't say I've mastered that but I have a few thoughts:
1. Celebrate the now. As in, plans are nice but always for the future - which doesn't really exist yet. The present is what we live in - look around and take a deep breath, do you smell the flowers?
2. Have children - there is nothing like a child to ignore all plans and celebrate the now. And instead of getting crabby at them - join their enthusiasm.
3. When was the last time you skipped? Oh yeah, you'll look like you're crazy but you know it's pretty fun. Or go to a playground and swing (only be warned, you may get nauseous)
4. Meditate on this verse in Jeremiah: I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23
5. When reality is really bleak, crying can help. Or if you are a guy, go play some sport or find some object that needs tearing apart and fixing. I don't know why but it can help.
6. Shut off the tv, computer, ipod, radio, stereo, etc and go outside. Or read a book or do anything a little out of the ordinary. It might give you a new perspective.

Let's just say our reality will almost always fall short of OUR plans. But if we look and listen carefully, we might just discover that the reality - with all it's messes, really IS better. Even with the weeds. Otherwise if we are always looking at the weeds, we might just miss the flowers.
--A