The Best-Laid Plans

The Scots bard, Robbie Burns, coined that phrase a few hundred years ago in one of his well-loved poems: ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley’. (Translated: the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.) 

And so it seems. After a hard two weeks away at an exhibition, Don and Jamie drove through the night to get home from the south coast of England, only to break down within fifty miles of Jamie’s home. Hammering along, intent on returning home and getting back into that routine, they were suddenly scuppered, stopped in their tracks and forced to sit for two hours on the roadside awaiting a recovery truck, and then wait several more hours for a replacement van to be found, brought to the scene, and the goods transferred. 

An unwelcome change of plan.

Whereas I – I also had a change of plan, but it was a blessing when a dear prayer partner friend who lives abroad for most of the year came by and we were able to share time together in God’s presence in that intimate way you only do with close friends.

A very welcome change of plan.

The Bible also says things about our plans.  ‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps’ it says in Proverbs.

It’s good to have plans. But in this life, it’s also good to be flexible. Who knows what the Lord may have planned for me today? Because Scripture also assures us that God works for good in every situation for those who love him, whatever the day holds, as long as I remain in step with God, it will be good.