I have been programming computers since the 1980’s. Back then it was BASIC and a database package with an ill-fated name: AIDS. In the Fall of 2000 I landed among the languages of the internet and the database platform of Microsoft Access. In January of 2016 hundreds and hundreds of hours later my WordPress life started. I love it. It is relatively easy and while requiring a bit of work, gives an outlet for thoughts, victories, challenges and other things.
Part 1–The morning starts: Mood=Average
Plugins are little programming helps that boost various aspects of a WordPress site, and they usually play together rather well. Two of my plugins stopped playing nice leaving one a bit less than what I had hoped for. I toyed with fixes to that problem a couple of times, but life nixed a permanent fix and the fussing plugins kept bickering back there in their rooms.
Finally sitting down to eliminate the lesser needed plugin I noticed one of them had a newly available update. I updated it and the conflict disappeared! Awesome! That was a surprise and a very good one. Here on this morning all fell into place. There shone some happiness and a satisfaction1 in accepting God’s Providence in the matter. The current that really motivated the pleasure was that much time was saved.
Part 2–The morning continues: Mood=Happy!
Off to work I went happy and smiling both inside and out. When I arrived at my clinic there were only 18 patients rather than the usual 29 or 30. More happiness! Life that day was sure tripping along in the right direction. First my plugin conflicts were solved rather instantly. Second the clinic would now finish right quickly and I would be able to get back to other things I perceived as needful. More time was given.
“But,” spoke that little voice in the mind, “Why only 18? Something is out of place.” My little bit of elation was heard by the clinic nurse. “You did it,” she said. “Me? Uh oh. If I did it then I did it on purpose. I must have forgotten something.” Around and around the mind went and then the surprise hit. “Yes…I had a lecture to give that afternoon.”
Disappointment set in. Not only am I not going to get those extra minutes I found myself so happy about, but I might get less time at the tasks I love.
Getting back on track: Mood goes back to average
In such a short time two surprises. Both surprises were good, but one felt bad and made me a bit angry. All morning God had been working things out, but my little world felt out of kilter. Almost all of this centered on the issue of time. Doing, accomplishing, getting things checked off is a massive motivator for me. Too, if one is going to be held accountable for things is it not good to have a long list of good things? Well, yes, sort of. That, too, can be twisted.
In the Old Testament was a fellow named Jonah. In one of the last stories told about him 2there was this little plant that grew up. He loved that plant for it gave him shade. In that story there was also a little herbivore, a.k.a. worm. Like Jonah that herbivore loved plants and so when the dawn came the worm had breakfast. Goodbye plant. Well, Jonah lost his woo-hoo. Along came God and reminding Jonah that he was rather fond of those 120,000 guilty people who needed to repent. A little lecture for a pouting, fussing prophet.
My story of average to happy to sad to average is a bit like God’s provision of the plant to Jonah except that for me it happened with time I was hoping for. It came and it went. I still had to give the talk whether I got the plugin fixed or not. I got the plugin fixed and I gave the talk. I got my cake and ate it too, but I WANTED MORE CAKE! Oh well, God gives us what we need and teaches all along the way. So I will go with his way of things.
God orders my life. I am clearly aware of how this blog (and the plugins) got started. I am clearly aware of how I found my way to being an ophthalmologist. I am clearly aware of how he provided answers to the plugin problem. It is clear that the smaller clinic was how I was reminded I had a lecture to give (at a conference center to 150-200 people). It is also clear that I did not want it ordered the way he ordered it. It is at that point that I had a choice to make. The choice was to submit to God in his ordering of the events. Like it or not that is squarely where it sits. Godliness and confidence for living can be restored by submission. Live his way and one is in the created way. There one experiences eternal life this side of eternity. One learns the style of heaven.
lulrich says
You are welcome. I want this blog and these lessons to be a blessing for people. Have a great day!
Lane