perspective: n. a mental view or prospect; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance
Mom made the same breakfast every day for Dad—two over-easy eggs with bacon, toast, and homemade jam. She fixed me a mug of hot chocolate with a huge, fat marshmallow melted atop. Sunday morning breakfasts were the exceptions. That was the day we had homemade biscuits, French toast, pancakes, or waffles. Not only do I love waffles, but I have a very sentimental connection to them because of Mom’s Sunday breakfasts—almost a symbiotic one.
A couple of years ago, I was gifted a sourdough starter and a recipe for sourdough waffles. They have become my new, most favorite food in the whole wide world—right after chocolate. Making them takes time, though. It’s not like a ready-made mix. You can’t just dump a box of stuff into a bowl, add water or milk, and then cook them. First you must feed the starter. That is accomplished by removing a small portion, adding water and flour, then allowing it to double in size. My recipe makes use of the remaining starter, called the discard, which I feel is far better than dumping it. After making the batter, it must sit for twenty minutes so the sourdough can kick in and do what sourdough does. When the surface of the batter has begun to bubble, one can begin the cooking process. I make a large batch and freeze them, so I have the golden goodies available to eat when the urge strikes.
Due to the lengthy process involved in production, I don’t make them often. I have to be in a certain mood to tackle the task. Typically, that involves giving myself a pep talk, with the promise of deliciousness awaiting at the end.
As I took the last one from the waffle iron, I heard myself: Well, I wasn’t planning on doing that today! God was setting the stage for today’s lesson—point #1.
I start my day every morning while lying in bed, right after I’ve opened my eyes, with the prayer, What do you have planned for me today, Father? The lesson He gave me revealed a contradiction of what I say vs. how I live.
The weather forecast said it was going to be a good day for gardening. That was my plan, anyway. And what better way to start it than with those lovely, unplanned sourdough waffles in my tummy?
I put my gardening clothes on, ready to proceed with the plan. Before going outside, I checked my computer. My editor had started editing a manuscript I delivered to her last week. She had questions that needed answering, and I was the only one who could answer them. Several hours later, with my eyes and my brain hurting, I called it a day. I had no desire or oomph left in me to deal with weeds.
It was yet another Well, I hadn’t planned on doing that today!—point #2.
It occurred to me that my perspective was off, as bent out of shape as the handle on my long-handled loppers after my client ran over them with her pickup. With my mouth, I ask God what He has on the schedule for me. And yet I keep my plans tucked away in my back pocket . . . just in case. The two are a night-and-day difference–point #3.
We creatures of habit desire order—and control—in our lives. God’s point is that He is my order and control. Daily, He leads me and guides me in the way I should go. I am to believe, accept, and live the truth–point #4.
I needed to shift my point of view of daily life away from myself and toward God. He has a plan for my day, often far removed from mine. He asks that I recognize it and acknowledge that truth, making life smoother for me.
In light of God’s lesson, I started my day once again today in the same way: What do you have planned for me today, Father? I hope I am learning that my day does play out in accordance with God’s agenda, not mine.
He is not a puppet master or a dictator. I need to work with Him, not against Him. It behooves me to stay open to Him, His will, and His way. God can, and does, make life interesting, often with a lot of unexpected surprises, evoking more Well, I didn’t plan on doing that today!
The Great Adventure called “Life with God” continues to unfold. Unplanned sourdough waffles and the unexpected completion of an edited manuscript verify the fact He is in charge of my life.
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 19:21 NLT