An Unpredictable Life / A Spring Book Party

Unpredictable

I admit it. I am not spontaneous. Back in the day--you know, in youth, when I had energy--I might have been more-so. But nowadays, spontaneity and I don't generally get along. Unpredictability is something that a planner such as I finds hard to deal with. Yet, life is unpredictable. *The disciples didn't know what they'd eat, where they'd sleep, what Jesus would do next. I bet some of them were like me--planners. In the popular television series The Chosen, the writers depict some of them that way, and I think pretty accurately. I look forward to meeting the Apostles and talking with them during our eternal someday. *We stagger through days from birth to old age, one decision at a time. No matter how well we plan our days, then can and often do lead to "a change of plans" or downright upheaval. Unexpected surprises and joys; untold heartaches and sorrows.  *I don't know whether or not the next book I write will find a publisher. And still I write. Even if I choose to self-publish, there's no knowing when Amazon will change up everything and shut me down. It happens to some authors. They suddenly get their accounts deleted with no explanation or recourse. Crazy, huh? *We don't know what our government leaders are going to do next to send our lives reeling in frustration or maybe even downright disgust. We feel at a loss as what we can about it. We vote, and even then the solutions aren't always what we would wish for. Our times are heavy with unpredictability--only knowing that the apostle Paul said, "Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13 -- Read that whole chapter, and that will remind you of what we can predict.) *We don't know when Jesus is coming back. He told us that no one knows the day or the hour, yet he offers indications of the times. So we should be walking in preparation, expectation, preparing for that it-could-happen-today moment. One hand on the pen, and another lifted to shade our eyes looking up with eager anticipation.

Yes, life and these times we precariously live in are unpredictable in many ways. I guess that's why "the just shall live by faith". Our sight is dim tunnel vision. I am trying to step out of my comfort zone and embrace more spontaneity so that the unpredictables are a little bit easier to take. What about you? How do you handle the things you don't see coming? Are you a spontaneous person? Have you found your faith challenged to grown more resilient against the windstorms of unpredictable onslaughts?

A Spring Book Party

Mark your calendars for MAY 15TH at HEROES, HEROINES, AND HISTORY (pop in anytime during the day) and on the Facebook MID MONTH MADNESS page( 4-7 p.m. Eastern) The writers at the Heroes, Heroines, and History Blog hold a Mid-Month Madness party once per quarter, but it's been quite a spell since I've participated, and the winter event was cancelled. But hey, it's spring, so let's get together now, shall we? The party takes place in two locations. One is all day on the blog, so you can drop in whenever it's convenient on the 15th, leave comments, and try and win a drawing there. Then, if the 4-7 p.m. hours of the Facebook portion of the event fit your life, you can join in over there for more chances to win books and prizes, and chat with the authors. IN A RARE OCCURENCE, I'll be sending out a reminder email for the party a day or two before, along with a list of books prizes and authors p articipating. If you don't receive my newsletter, sign up here. Make sure to add it to your address book so it doesn't wind up in your spam folder.