Ducks in a Row

     I am one of those organized people who like to have their ducks in a row or, in my case, lambs in a line. I like to plan ahead, make lists so I can cross things off, buy birthday gifts weeks ahead of time, never have to run to the store for toilet tissue, etc.  This year I have to be even more ducky than usual because I am having a knee replacement December 10th and need to have all my Christmas preparations finished by then. I have most of our presents bought and wrapped, including stocking stuffers. The ones for Britten and Luke, who will not be here for Christmas, were ready for them to take home by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. Christmas cards, stamps and stationery are waiting for the annual Christmas letter which I inflict on my friends and family. And today I decorated the house for Christmas--minus tree. This is a little early for me but, of course, I am months behind retailers and many of our neighbors already have their lights up.  A week before Thanksgiving I saw red and blue lights out our front window, I thought a cop car was parked in the street; it turned out to be our neighbor's Christmas lights lining the fence.
     But I have discovered God is not at all interested in my ducks being in a row.  Years ago, when I was asked to be a BSF leader, I had it all planned out.  First, my husband would get the better paying job he was pursuing, then I would be able to quit my job at the hospital and we could afford Christian school without my income. Phase three would be accepting the role of group leader. There are many leaders capable of working, leading and taking care of their families at the same time, but I knew I was not one of those. I would have to make a choice. This was the third time I had been asked to consider leadership and apparently, the Spirit uses a "three strikes--you're in" rule because He was hammering confirmation into my heart and, though I knew God equips those He calls, it still felt like the clammy hand of death on my shoulder.  God's plan was that I first, accept the leadership position, then quit my job. Phase three was Reed getting his better paying job.  One of us had our ducks backwards.
     The problem with being terminally organized is that it is easy to transfer living by faith in God to faith in the Plan. It is also presumptuous to assume that God's plan for the future will coincide with ours.  We have just begun studying the life of Abraham in Bible study, and I can imagine the following conversation:

Abraham:  Pack up the camels Sarah, we're going camping.
Sarah:  Where?
Abraham:  Don't know yet.
Sarah:  How long?
Abraham:  For the rest of our lives.

     No Holiday Inn, no Walmart, didn't even know where to gas up the camels, much less put them in a row.  They went. Yes, they brought supplies, Sarah probably made a list, but God was their GPS. He had the plan.  I try to remember that as I rush about, herding ducks. Faith should not be the last thing on my list. It is not the back up plan.  It is the place we are to camp for the rest of our lives.