Recalculating
GPS is a great invention. It is designed to guide you to your destination using the most convenient path. It’s wonderful when it works properly and there are no unforeseen obstacles. When obstacles appear and everything changes, your path needs to be rerouted and the distance and time to reach your destination is recalculated.
I like the movie RV with Robin Williams. He calls his GPS Lola and when he takes a wrong turn she announces that she is recalculating, when he is on an uncharted road she tells him and when he is frustrated with the announcements he says, “I know that Lola!” We often joke about “Lola” whenever we are traveling or if our GPS routes us in an unusual direction.
It can be frustrating when we get off course or it takes us longer to reach our destination than we planned. The chronic to do list maker in me feels that same way when I have a plan or a list that needs completed by a designated time and gets delayed.
This last week was full of “Lola” moments. I was working on several projects and it felt like they all were getting fragmented. I couldn’t seem to complete tasks because all the elements weren’t coming together or I would get another more urgent request that needed immediate attention. What should have taken a few hours to complete took the entire day and a few times, heaven forbid, even had to be put on the following day’s to do list! That is like nails on a chalkboard to my perfectionist character.
There were a few days that I thought I saw the light of getting caught up and even having a little extra time to work on the blog, that didn’t happen. Just when I would have a moment to breathe I would get notified of a canceled flight due to weather which would require my immediate attention to help stranded travelers.
That crisis would be fixed and new business would walk in the front door wanting to get out of the winter cold. On the business side of things it was a very productive week. On the paperwork side, not so much and these “Lola” moments continued at home.
Working late meant that dinner was late and that evening chores would have to be postponed. I began to feel anxious because I didn’t have a new blog written and I didn’t want to miss a day. Little did I know that God was using the week to teach me some valuable lessons.
I missed a deadline I had set for myself with the blog and became very frustrated with myself for falling short and thoughts of failing, disappointing God and not managing my responsibilities better wrestled in my mind.
As I began my devotional time on Saturday morning thoughts of sending off a quick blog so I didn’t miss a day ran through my head, followed by thoughts of do it right and for the right reasons.
I prayed and poured out my heart to God about my frustration and He answered by giving me another blog to read. The message in that blog was about having grace for yourself, perfection is not obtainable. He reminded me that He has been showing me this lesson for the last few months.
I have always written my to do list in pen. They seem cleaner and brighter that way, but a few months ago I started using pencils because there always seemed to be changes and scratching out pen looked worse than erasing pencil.
What He was trying to teach me is to be flexible and adjust to the “Lola” moments that will come. If the path was always smooth sailing we would have no need for direction and we would rely only on ourselves. Because there are unforeseen changes we must rely on direction from the GPS (God).
When we find ourselves lost and missing the mark, we can choose to have grace for ourselves and others by remembering that we all fall short. Although the “Lola” moments can be frustrating, they also can be quite an adventure requiring dependence on God.
I’m reminded that my ways may seem like a good plan, but often God has a better plan that will require some Recalculating Lola Moments.”
My Prayer
Father, thank you for Your grace this week. You already knew every delay, change of plan and over scheduling moment that I would have this week and You were already prepared to offer me grace when I didn’t give any to myself. Thank you. Help me to retain the lessons and to go out this week and begin it with You leading the way. Whatever comes will be filtered through You and You will give grace, strength and wisdom to accomplish it at exactly the right time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Where does my help come from?
Romans 3: 23 (NLT)
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)
“There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.”
Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NLT)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.”