Life happens in spite of plans

Well, I had planned to finish re-reading Don't Waste Your Life and start one of the review books by Sunday. However, the weekend was rather topsy turvey (hehehe, spell check hasn't heard of that one). Saturday was spent getting some much needed house and yardwork accomplished. Sunday afternoon was time to rest and do a few little projects (like rearranging the side of my refrigerator to display gorgeous pictures of the grandchildren).

Christopher had to work Sunday (which happens normally only during football season) and came home planning to return to campus to study. Instead he was quite ill so he did the best he could here at home. This has been a rough autumn for all three of my mold allergy sufferers (and the wet summer wasn't too great, either). My son kept muttering something about moving to Arizona last night... :)

As it turned out, he was able to watch his English assignment on his laptop while I listened in (try reading Piper and listening to a musical blog at the same time...). His English instructor is quite an interesting person, a graduate student in Medieval Literature, who has some fascinating ways of getting students to think. This particular "musical" was a perfect vehicle for discussing "right" and "wrong", "good" and "bad"...

The three of us later discussed the theology behind the books of Job (hubby's favorite) and Jonah (C.'s favorite). While interesting, I had to continue reminding them that my body thought it was an hour later than the clock indicated... could we continue this discussion another day (and a little earlier?).

Of course, chats and such were happening in between sofa time for Mom and fairly severe allergy symptoms for Christopher. Each day continues in spite of health concerns, a zero bank balance, and imperfect people (especially men, hehehe). Okay... they would have something to say about that. :)

Life does take us down unexpected paths but last night I was reminded of the scene near the end of the wonderful movie, Mr. Holland's Opus. At his surprise retirement "party", a large group of former students were assembled to play his unpublished symphony. One of the students looks at him and then at all assembled and says something like, "Mr. Holland, we are your opus, we are the symphony of your life".

That is precisely what is happening to us as we do the best we can to plan life, making goals and writing down expectations... then giving it all to the Lord to work within His will. Our life may appear to be unsettled and bewildering but (prayerfully), He will weave it into a beautiful symphony... even if the world in general looks at us and sees something less than success.

I'm certain they do not understand how the mixture of theological discussions, multiple cups of hot tea, books read and letters written, foreheads soothed as the fever rages, children hugged, teenagers given Truth and Grace, listening to another of Grandfather's stories, complimenting mother's cooking, sitting and pondering as we watch the end of another season... all combine to form music.

Our opus... the continuation of family... never perfect but still beautiful... when written by the Master.

Picture: Raking Leaves; allposters.com