Have you ever heard the saying “Blessed are the flexible because they never get bent out of shape”
I am not one to make wild claims about my spiritual gifts, but I would say that flexibility is one of them. It may not have been a naturally occurring gift, but through life experience I have come to know that it is to better to be flexible than to be bent out of shape all of the time.
This week has been one of those where I have been reminded of the gift of flexibility. As a daycare worker, snowboard instructor, water sports director, and a number of other jobs I have learned the benefit of flexibility. As a pastor I have realized it is essential.
When we are faced with a change of plans we have a couple of responses. I tend to have one immediate response which is be frustrated with the change because of all of the work and prep that I have done to get to this place. However, I have recognized that if I change my mentality from asking why my plans could be so carelessly changed to thoughts about what now, good things begin to happen. Perhaps the more accurate description of my frustration is me lamenting to God “Why would you let something like this happened when I have done such good work to make it this far.” But when I recognize I cannot live in the past, then my heats prayer is “God, what would you have me do now?”
When I am flexible I open up to what God can do with me. When I am grumpy about a situation it just makes everything worse. I am in a bad mood, the others helping me are in a bad mood and those we are serving can feel that vibe.
Asking what’s next allows God to work through unforeseen circumstances in ways that may be more transformational than the original plan. This week think about ways that you can take steps to figure out what’s next when plans go south. Work to make things great for everyone. there will be a time and a place to debrief and share what could be improved on.
Go crazy for God in your flexibility because God is crazy about you.
