Years ago, while flipping
through an outdated booklet intended for corporate trainers, I looked down and
saw a job posting for counselors at a camp for kids with cancer. Hiring for the
camp ended in April. It was May. I called anyway. A newly hired counselor quit
the previous week, and the director offered me a job over the phone. He seemed
surprised a girl from Indiana called about a camp in New Jersey. I wasn’t. I
knew I was supposed to be there.
In college, while waiting
for the elevator, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and no one
was there. When I looked up, there was a giant poster advertising a cultural
immersion project on an Indian Reservation in New Mexico. I never heard of it
before, but as soon as the elevator arrived and I stepped on, I knew I’d be a part of the project.
The job I have now, I have because I called the wrong number. True statement. After talking to
someone I never intended to get a hold of, I knew I’d end up working a position
I hadn’t even known about minutes before.
Why did I embrace
situations that didn’t make sense?
It’s the sure factor. It’s
what happens when you don’t plow through life. It’s what develops when you let
go of your agenda and allow God to plop you smack dab in the middle of His plans. The sure factor is being certain God will smooth out the details.
During each of these experiences, I was open, and as a
result, I was changed. This is not typical
Amy Sullivan behavior.
See, I pray to embrace the interruptions God lobs my
way, but when He tosses, I am much too busy with my own plans to catch. Plus, sometimes, He
tells me to do crazy things, things that are out of my comfort zone, or things
that don’t make sense. Oh, I’m not the only one.
Think of good ‘ol Sarah
getting pregnant at ninety. Crazy.
And Mary, who was
happily planning her wedding and then bam! She found out she was carrying
Jesus. Certainly, out of her comfort zone.
And what about poor,
old, Abraham wandering around the desert for so long? It just didn’t make
sense.
I want to be someone who lets go of fear. I long to trash perfectly laid plans, and I am willing to work at embracing the sure factor.
What about you? Think of a time when God kicked you out of your comfort zone and asked you to do something that didn’t make sense. What did he ask you to do? Did you go willingly?
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Also, I just joined both
Facebook and Pinterest. Yes, the ground did shake a bit. Please go here to "like" my Facebook Writer Page. I totally feel like a salesman saying that. Now, after you finish, please come around back and look at this '96 Escort. That was probably funnier in my head.
19 comments:
Amy, I love the way you've put a name to my own "crazy gut feeling" thing. Yeah, I know what you're talking about. No, I don't follow my "sure factor" enough. Yes, I wish I were the woman who dropped everything and just followed the Lord's nutty plans. I'm praying to be that gal. I quit my teaching job when my husband was in med school and our baby was one. No income for seven years except what I could scrounge in jobs from home. Oh, yeah, and we added two more babes to the mix before he got a "real job." Everyone thought we were nuts. We were. And God provided- beans, tuna, and lots of wouldn't trade out memories with my kids. Believe it or not, somedays we long for that life again- seems like it was all simpler. No decisions about what to do w/money- just pay the bills and pray we'll eat the next week. Crazy. Wonderful. And of course, my faith soared in that season like no other time.
I love stopping by here. Praying for you (and myself) as we trash our perfectly laid plans!
Love this. I love the examples that you have, so powerful! I got engaged to my military man after only about 3 months of "dating"...long distance. We were married 5 months after that. Everyone thought I was a crazy person but I just knew that was what God had in mind for us. 3+ years later, so far so good ;) "Sure factor" is definitely a great way to describe it!
Interestingly enough, I tend to not listen to that very well. I get too caught up and don't hear those nudges as often anymore....even though it works so well to listen. Need to work on that! Need to slow down. For sure.
Oh girl... I love the way you embrace the sureness of the Lord! I am right there with you-- I personally would LOVE to have a blueprint plan drawn out to follow. But sometimes God just throws stuff my way and says, "Ok daughter... now go."
Gulp.
But the best part-- He never makes me go alone.
PS: You make me smile. A lot. And I am en route to like your FB page.
this is my life, doing things that don't make sense to the world. Like moving to places I've never been to, without a job, more than once. It's the only way my husband and I know how to live, in the sure factor. He always irons out the details. Love this Amy. I don't know about you, but sometimes this kind of life can get a little lonely at times too.
Oh, where to start? Moving to South Carolina, adopting rather than continuing fertility treatments, quitting my job to stay home, homeschooling my kids, adopting from Haiti. I didn't always go willingly but once I agreed I fought to the end for it. And the adventure is just beginning!
This has happened to me, too, but not so much related to big projects and jobs as to hospital visits and, once, an in-house laying on of hands. TOTALLY out of my comfort zone. I tried to follow you on Pinterest but couldn't seem to find you. Look me up...
I think He takes joy in a position of uncomfortable so that He is the one always glorified in the situation. He sees our potential way more than we see our own....I want to be more like you and be more 'open' to that.
Bam! You follow God just like that. Can you rub some of that off on me? ;)
I love how things have worked out for you in the past. But, I also think it's good that things are working out for you in different ways today. I know the different is scary, but I can't wait to see how it all pans out :) I knew I was to homeschool the kids this past year, but it has made little practical sense (seeing that S. lost his job shortly after I'd jumped in with both feet). However, I am a firm believer in listening even when it makes zero sense. I still know it was right, and we may not always see the 'why' of our decisions until later. Love this post! - And, where's the escort?
Oh, Amy...have I ever learned about the best laid plans in 2012!
This is a family of planners and God sure interrupted our best laid ones this year. But what a treasure of teaching He's given us. I figure, our choices are to embrace it or make ourselves miserable. I choose His embrace!
This is awesome. I feel like God takes me out of my comfort zone all the time. Just went I start to get comfy, he tells me to scoot over. It's good, though. Real good.
Where were you in NM? That's where I grew up!
Loved this! I identify with it. . .somewhat. You are much braver than I! My first biggest out of the comfort zone was when I joined a huge evangelism program back in the 90's. I went, shaking like a leaf, but stuck it out and I grew so much from that experience. The next year I was asked to be a leader of a group in same program. I did it, shaking like a leaf. Then 3 years ago, God led me to start a blanket ministry for the homeless. I did it, shaking like a leaf, and what a blessing that turned out to be! I pray some day I can step out of those comfort zones not shaking anymore! ;)
I'm reasonably sure a big part of what's been going on over the last of years of my life have been about God introducing enough crazy to get my to toss my agenda into the air. Few things which have happened are ones I would ever have imagined, let alone planned.
And welcome to the dark side, and the worlds of Facebook and Pinterest.
I've been working on that very thing. Letting God do the unplanned in my life. :) I'm a work in progress. :)
I have looked for this - but never found it in my life. Maybe I've missed those moments (I hope this isn't true) or maybe I have never had one (I hope even more that this isn't true). I'm not really sure. But I hope most of all if the time does come, that I will go willingly.
Love those three stories.
Amy, first how cool that you're from Indiana! My prayers lately have been, "Lord, choose for me." His plans are always better, aren't they! Thanks for these inspiring stories. The sure factor--I like that!
amy, you make me laugh, and think. i love you.
Amy, I stayed at home with my kids. When my youngest was about to start kindergarten, an old friend kept asking me to come back to work...on my terms and flexible schedule. Then years later, I felt that my time was finished at that job, but didn't think I should stay home again. My hubs needed help relocating his office...that was 4 years ago ...and now the Lord has led me to write my story.I think leaping with faith is always hard, but I've never felt the free fall...The Holy Spirit always carries me. Thanks for the reminder to listen and catch what the Lord throws my way!
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