Ordinary Time: U is for Unplanned

Having lived seventy-two years, pivoting has become a way of life. Divorce; back surgery; floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes; dying and death; pandemic; raising children; serving as a priest; and, oh yes, the adventures of travel— the unexpected and unplanned is the way of life.

A week ago I was in Portland, Oregon, enjoying a wonderful, joyful day with my grandboys. I was given the gift of an anything can happen day with them while their parents went to a concert. A largely unplanned Sunday, with church in the peace of Lan Su Chinese Garden.

And then the more unplanned. The surveyor helping with the division of my mom’s land in Chambersville could meet with my brothers and me at the end of the week.

Instead of flying back to Houston, as planned, I flew to Dallas to spend a long weekend at the farm. I got to spend the 4th with family. Unplanned. And delightful.

I flew home on Sunday to our unplanned hurricane.

Still. Even if I don’t have battery powered fans to keep me cool, I found these two hand fans left from a march a few years ago:

Still. Even if I didn’t have an ice chest or generator, I found good coffee, ice, conversation, air conditioning, and a free outlet at a well-named local place:

As I sat and looked around this rare place nearish my home with electricity, among the assorted, random group gathered, I pondered the common bond we shared of the unplanned life. No one seemed particularly full of glee (except for a toddler who had found a table number that made the perfect toy); but in our common bond, we shared what we had (an empty chair, an unused outlet), we were kind, we smiled, and we were safe. We had access to food, to drink, and clean restrooms. We could sit a spell. I read my Bible and prayed. Others set up their office at a table and had meetings. I had enough financial resources to buy delicious food and not be concerned about spending the money.

It may not have been the answer to prayer I’d wanted (pleaseGodpleaseGodpleaseGod restore our electricity), but it may have been the yes to my prayer for peace.