"On Being Led"

I never know for certain where I am going to be or what I am going to be doing at any given point in time.  I may make plans, but I always know those are subject to all sorts of variables beyond me.  When the day began I had no idea I would end up in Jim's yard, cleaning up debris and following a certain train of thought.  The thinking part is always a plus as it seems I do some of my best thinking while working.

The day began quite rainy so I had pretty much decided it was going to be void of any outside work.  By noon the four walls were closing in on me, and I headed out anyway, fully expecting to get soaked and have a good reason for quitting.  That is not how the day turned out though.

Let me set this up.  I am of the thinking that most of us want to live our lives with a sense of order, purpose, and direction.  For me, that has been a desire for as long as I can remember.  In the "ago," and it has been so long ago, I can't tell you when--the One who created me whispered, "I will lead you and guide you in the way you should go."  He doesn't shout, you know.  It's the still, small, quiet voice.  My response and reaction at the time was, "Yeah, whatever."   As time and years have passed, I find I have gone to that statement over and over again, valuing it rather than giving it a casual, flippant response. 

I HAVE been led and guided--through a divorce after 37 years of marriage (You don't expect to hear God and divorce in the same thought, do you?) ; into the job marketplace where my only "work experience" on a resume' was several decades of being a stay-at-home mom to four children; into a gardening business where I am now able to mow and blow with the best of them; into my own home.  I could go on and on.   

There are some who will say this is no different than living life "on the fly", a "whatever will be" mentality.  For me, I know the difference.  This is being grounded, being connected to Someone larger than me.  Who knows me better than my Creator?  Who has higher goals and aspirations for me than I could ever think of for myself?  It's the parent/child scenario where the parent always, only wants what is best for the child.

Am I preaching?  No.  It is not my desire to change your way of thinking or for you to live your life as I do.  My life is mine; yours is yours.  I am only sharing with you how I lived my life today, which brings me back to Jim's yard.  I never expected to go to Jim's today, as he is a Tuesday  client, and today is Thursday.  Sometimes my little red truck has a mind of its own though, and I remembered seeing a pile of fallen branches in his yard.  The rain cleared, and I piled the debris into my truck.   Jim is coming home to a clean space, and I get to cross off a project on my to-do list.  Who knew?  As I worked, deep in thought, I was once again grateful for being led and guided.  Simplistic?  Maybe--but for me, powerful.