Going with the flow

Today I am learning to go with the flow. I am a person of some structure, not to say routine. I wake up early and read the Bible for an hour and pray while walking 2.7 miles in the local cemetery, and that's the way I like it. As I write this column, it is now 1:14 p.m. and I have not yet washed or dressed or put on earrings, and this is way out of my comfort zone. (I'm getting better: There was a time I couldn't answer the door without earrings and lipstick on.)

This morning my friend Judy (not her real name) showed up to pray at 7:30, and I had forgotten our date, so I was still in bed surrounded by Bible and other study paraphernalia. I let Judy in and there was "stuff" going on in her life, so we prayed and talked longer than usual. I hadn't finished my Bible reading and I hadn't had my walk, so this was a stretch for me.

Then my brother called from Florida and that was important, too. Then an acquaintance called with news of her marital implosion and of God's strange redemption. (Another hour.) Then my son phoned, and he had borrowed my car but was locked out of it seven miles north of here. So I phoned my mother to see if she could pick me up so we could rescue my son.

On the way back from the rescue my mother wanted spinach, so she asked me to run into the market. I explained to her that I hadn't showered or combed or put on clean clothes (not to mention earrings and lipstick), so she said to never mind-which, of course, made me feel petty for caring about how I looked to the Guenardi's cashier. So I stopped for the spinach and the sky didn't fall and no one arrested me for public indecency.

Every step of the way my druthers was to finish my Bible study and take my private walk. But every step of the way it seemed that God was redirecting me: I can't think of a moment in the last few hours where I resisted the Holy Spirit.

I think this is good practice for me, and what the Spirit intends-that I should present myself for service every day and then be ready to chuck my plans at every turn if He so wills. I feel a little salubrious loosening going on, and even a sense of adventure, as I let Him lead in this dance, He will bring about unexpected blessings and advances in His kingdom.

But now it's 1:28, and unless something very important happens between sighing off here and reaching the top of the stairs, I'm headed for the shower. Good-bye.