Who's Flying the Plane?

I'm a homebody. There. I said it.

So what's a homebody to do when the theme for the month is "EXPLORE?" Let's be honest here: I don't think I would have been the first to sign up for a berth on the Santa Maria. Ol' Chris Columbus would have pulled away from the dock without me when "in 1492 he sailed the ocean blue."

It's not that I don't enjoy seeing new places and experiencing new things. Once my husband drags me away from my well-oiled routine, I always enjoy the journey.

So what's the hitch? Maybe it's that I don't know what lies around that twist in the road.

It just might not fit into my to-do list. And we Type A personalities all know how satisfying it is to firmly draw a line through the next item on the list. (True confessions: Sometimes we write an item on the list after it's done just for the satisfaction of crossing it off! Come on now ... I know I'm not the only one!)

But here's the thing. No one can tell you exactly what's around the bend. Only one thing is sure: God is already there for you.

This summer, one of my forays outside my normal realm was a trip with my sister and brother to help our Chicago sister celebrate a milestone birthday. As we flew back home, I had a window seat on the airplane.

At times, the clouds obscured the scene below. I certainly couldn't "see" where we were going. And even if I could have picked out the landmarks, I don't have the skill or training to fly the plane.

I once saw a quote that said:

If God is your co-pilot, switch seats.

Hmm ... That's pretty powerful for someone who craves control.

When we go through the security line at an airport, we certainly don't intend to walk up the breezeway and into the pilot's seat - or even the co-pilot's seat. We leave the navigating to the experts. We settle into our seats. We make sure our seatbelts are fastened. We assure that our tray tables are in a locked and upright position. We good girls make sure we pay close attention to the safety message. Then we settle back in the seat and open our book until it's time to crack open the Diet Coke and pretzels.

Is there sometimes turbulence? Yes.

Does the plane sometimes have to make an unscheduled detour around stormy weather? Yes again.

Are there sometimes delays? Most assuredly.

But we trust the pilot to get us there, even if it's unfamiliar territory to us.

So maybe there's a lesson there. My Pilot longs to guide me on the journey He has planned for me. It's a matter of giving up control and letting Him lead me through the turbulence and rough patches of my life. He wants to lead me outside my comfort zone. He wants to challenge me. He wants to be No. 1 on my all-important list.

One of my Facebook friends periodically has a status report titled, "Message from God." Sometimes those posts seem like they are directed right at me. My friend, Keva, who blogs at Hope in Jesus on Lovely Branches' Ministries Vine Press might call it a "God Wink."

One of those Messages from God has stayed with me. It was on change:

On this day, God wants you to know that change is the very nature of life. Welcome it!

No glass ever became sand again.


No bread ever became wheat.

No ripened fruit ever became a flower.

Welcome change.
Let God choose what kind of glass you create,
what kind of bread you bake,
what kind of fruit you harvest.

Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it? Especially for we sisters who love our to-do lists. It's a reminder to turn the pen over to our life's Author and Pilot and let him fly the plane.

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And since we're talking about twists and turns, I have the perfect recipe for you this month that will leave you fit to be tied.

As the weather gets cooler, making soft homemade pretzels is a great activity to do with your children or grandchildren. Just click here for the recipe. Enjoy!