Trust the Unfolding
Daily Passage
Reflections
The journey is about cultivating a relationship, not about the destinations reached or the final outcome.
In my twenties and ready and willing to help change the world, I flew to Haiti. I wanted so badly to help build a community that was abundant in every way for all who lived there. I wanted to establish homes with running water and see to it that tables were always abundant with food. I wanted to share my knowledge that I had learned: to be the most helpful neighbor that I could possibly be. I had so many plans. I hoped to live in this one region for ten years, helping those around me to flourish. I would develop a program, teach leaders from the community and then, leave leaving the program to be run by Haitians. It was a beautiful plan. And, not only one that was beautiful, but a plan that was inspired. When asked, “Why did you come to Haiti?” I would reply, “I was led to Haiti.” I was definitely there on faith. A few monies in my bank account, I, having grown up in a very small church, had the promise of $50.00 a month to back me, I had no worries. I knew fully that everything I needed, I would have. I was living the life in faith, and all my provisions were met. I had no fear.
But, things changed quickly, and all my plans began to fall away. I was devastated. I had to leave Haiti in less than a year of being there. I had barely even begun. It took me years to recover. From 1996 to 2015, I was in recovery from what happened there. John Lennon said, “Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” How very true is this! We have life - let’s live it fully! We can’t do that by looking at the past. The past is gone already. We can not do that by hoping or dreaming up a future. The future is unknown. What we have is this moment—eternity in every moment. There in Haiti, my life was carrying on; I only needed to go with the flow. I was suffering though, because I was stuck on a concept that I had fixed into my brain as my mission in life. I was wrong, and was having trouble letting go.
I remember making the decision to leave the area that I had hoped to develop. I didn’t want to leave, but I knew I needed to leave. And then, I saw a vision. Jesus was standing in front of me. He had a cane in his hand for traveling. His back was towards me. My heart sank, I felt as though the vision was telling me that he was abandoning me. But then, I realized, he was leading me out of there. Eventually, I heard the words, “I never asked you to go do work in Haiti. I asked you to follow me. I led you to Haiti, and now I am leading you out.”
If you are walking on a spiritual journey, your path is not leading to a place. It’s a road trip designed to cultivate relationship. We have dreams and aha moments full of inspirations. We make plans and are able to see many of them through; however, step by step in this journey, we need to trust in the process of the unfolding. We also need to celebrate where we are in every moment.
I think now of the park that I go to almost daily. It is a newly establish park, and I have been able to watch as new walking and biking paths are made. As I walk there, I often give thanks for the path-makers and also the path-maintainers. When walking daily on the same path, I notice changes. Sometimes limbs fall and block the way. Sometimes road-crews come, and trim the hedge and the path needs to be rerouted. Sometimes heavy rains push the creek out of its bed and the bridges that are washed away, need rebuilding. And so yes, I am thankful for the makers and maintainers. It’s never a done deal, placed and set. Maintenance is required. It’s a relationship. Just like the fire that needs to be watched and fed that I talked about in an earlier post, our path needs maintenance.
Many of the verses in today’s reading are about relationship with God. The whole chapter is framed by the same idea: God is in control. Verse 1 reads, “The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord,” and verse 33 continues, “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord’s alone.” And what has this Universal Being decided? To connect with us. To walk with us and guide us. To show us the way of being present moment by moment. No matter what happens, we need to trust. Everything works out for the good of those who believe.
trust
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.”
— Erol Ozan
Eight Affirmations of Gratitude
I am grateful for my ability to trust.
I am thankful for relationships.
An give thanks for path that I walk.
I give thanks for path-makers, path-takers, and path-maintainers.
I am thankful that I am exactly where I need to be in my life at this moment.
I am thankful for the beautiful unfolding of my life.
I give thanks for all of the times that I felt lost and then found my way again.
I am thankful for my life journey is one of connection and not isolation and that I am never alone .
Questions to Consider
How can I trust more?
Is there something on my path that is blocking my way that I can clear?
Who is making and maintaining the path I am walking?
Blessings
Thank you for joining me. I am thankful that at this time, our journey has brought us together. We are path-takers together today! Thank you. Namaste.