What Do I Do Next?

When I was home over the weekend with my parents I had a really great conversation with them about the future. I decided for sure that I'm going to Peru for a little over 3 weeks with Dave in June. I guess I had been planning on it (or at least, not planning on anything else for June) but I wanted to make sure they were ok with it.

We talked about the prospects of Ethiopia for five months, or DC, or Afghanistan. We talked about other possible options, health insurance questions, and what to do with my car.

And I walked away feeling pretty good and in control of the future. I got the wonderful blessing of "we'll support you in whatever you decide" and for the first time in weeks I felt like I had something like a plan and some peace about it.

Then I had this wonderful conversation Monday morning with my friend Heather who said "remember to enjoy the moment. Remember what Craig Eggleton said way back, 'God doesn't give me long-term plans because I'd rush them.'"

Then I get this brilliant idea... remember how I had all this trouble leaving the Philippines because I didn't get a visa? I should check on visas for Peru. And, hey cool, no visa unless you're staying more than 90 days, no worries. Then I get this even more brilliant idea. I'm already on the state department site, why not just glance at Ethiopia too?

Within two hours I got a rejection email from the internship program in Africa. How did I not see that coming?

There I was, rushing the long-term plans. At first, it hurt some. Rejection always does. As does losing a little bit of control, letting go of a plan. I spent a couple grumpy hours thinking, ok, what do I do next?

Then I realized I was thinking about this all wrong. God's got a plan. He always does. And He always reveals it to me at the very last minute. Why should I expect any different? Why am I trying to rush things? Why do I not trust that His plan is way better than mine?

Then I realized, here I am walking to Bible study with the sophomore guys wondering what do I do next... what I do next is lead Bible study! Be where I am, and be all here.