Changes To The Appointment
I would consider myself a pretty well organized person. I have my schedule book, phone apps, sticky notes and more to keep me on track with what I need to get accomplished throughout the week; and still with all of the moving parts, change occurs with or without my permission. That is to be expected. Recently I made an appointment to get my hair done in New York City, and I like to get in and out on my weekends when I go to larger cities because of traffic; so for the most part I like to schedule my appointments as early as possible. In this case, I requested 7AM. I know, I know…that’s like crack of dawn early to be getting your hair done, but I just wanted to have the remainder of the day to spend with my family, and do as please with my time.
Well, appointment reminders were sent out, and my requested time was moved to 10AM. Three hours later than I originally wanted, but nonetheless, I had a scheduled time (this hair stylist is pretty popular and a major deal so I’m not arguing). However, it got me thinking about what God’s time and my little hair appointment had to do with one another. Everything.
As much as I’d hate to admit it, I sometimes think I have the logistical part down-packed to a science—and all of the other foolishness I think I can rely on God to handle; you know the stuff I can’t seem to figure out and the things that pull on my emotions. Yeah, I am guilty of leaving the heavy-lifting up to Him while I act like I have control elsewhere (the nerve). There is no right way of admit that, but hey, it’s the first step to recovery! I think that a lot of the time we do have “everything figured out”, until there is a “change”. Then what?
Now I could have read my email, with my new confirmed hair appointment time, and been upset or disappointed about it. I mean, I do hold my time as a valuable factor in my life, and I’m sure the stylist does too (which she explains quite well as to why there were changes to individual appointments). However, after careful reconsideration, there were many “pluses” to having a 10AM appointment instead of 7AM. For starters, who needs to wake up on a Saturday at 4:45AM, just to get ready and drive into the city, find parking, blah blah blah. It’s honestly a form of abuse now that I really think it through. No one is asking for me to put these pressures on myself. It’s never that serious.
Even when I wasn’t looking out for my best interest, God was and is. The reason why I’m focusing on that aspect of the matter is because too often we can find ourselves removing Him bit-by-bit from every equation, when in fact He is the catalyst of it all. Yes, something as trivial as a hair appointment, I found a way to notice Him moving and shaping my attitude, patience, and reaction to change. I’d be foolish to believe I had any ounce of control in the matter. From my safety traveling to and from, to the weather, or current events; I have no idea what He may be protecting me from (or reserving for me), but my outlook is that of a positive stance because everything that happens is for my good (Romans 8:28).
So today, with all that is happening around us, in the world, at work, with our children, sports, marriages, health…let’s take an opportunity to recognize the changes that take place and not twist it into something negative and unexplainable. The orchestration of lives still should have Him at the very center of it all, and whatever changes to your appointment, know He is in control.
