OPD.
Yes, I just made that up, but it’s the best way I can explain to you the condition I was in.
What does it stand for?
Obsessive Planning Disorder.
You think I’m being over dramatic? I can send you to multiple of my friends from elementary/middle school, and they will gladly inform you that I had binders. Yes, BINDERS, full of details for my birthday parties. Down to the minute.
3:05 – leave school
3:11 – arrive at home
3:14 – eat snack
3:25 – open presents
…what 11-year-old does that?!
Fast forward to freshman year of college. Time for class registration for the upcoming semester? No worries. I went into my advisor’s office with Excel spreadsheets letting THEM know what classes I would be taking each semester for the next four years.
…what college freshman does that?!
I was researching graduate schools and future homes before I even took my first college exam.
And I thought that was all good for me. I thought I was being prepared and ambitious. I knew exactly what I wanted, and I was gonna know exactly how to get it.
Joke was on me.
God was definitely IN my plan the whole time, but He wasn’t THE plan.
And what a difference that change can make in our lives!!
I guess you could say I was leaning on my own understanding! I was doing what I thought was best for me and my life.
But Proverbs 3:5-6 (cliché, I know, but so much TRUTH) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
About sophomore year, I finally got this in my head and started seeking His plan for my life, but I still wasn’t completely trusting Him with my life. I wasn’t submitting to Him in ALL of my ways.
I started searching (planning, if you will) for what I could do after college to serve Him. I found a program where I would teach missionary kids overseas and changed my major from accounting to math education. I even emailed the program I found to let them know I was interested. Y’all… I was a SOPHOMORE. I had two more years PLUS having to teach in the states for a couple of years before they would even consider sending me anywhere.
Two days before classes started for my senior year, I finally took a giant leap of faith and tweaked my degree (for the last time) with no plan after college. I decided that God actually did have everything under control and stopped thinking I had to plan every. single. moment. of my life. Why? Because God already has an unbelievable, beautiful, unique story already written for me… for all of us. All we have to do is trust in the Lord and submit to Him.
(Head over to “About” to see what happened next!)
I haven’t even left the country yet, but God already has taught me so much from this journey.
For example, Training Camp.
They had one [tentative] schedule on the doors of the training center. I’ll admit I looked at it once or twice.
But, for the most part, I was pretty go with the flow. After each activity/meal/lesson, they would let us know in however many minutes we would need to be somewhere with so much gear and be ready to do whatever the next activity/meal/lesson was!
And it was so refreshing. Taking each moment as it comes and enjoying it. Not anxiously awaiting day 4 or 7 or 10, but focusing on what and who was right in front of me.
This not only applies to me for the Race, but to everyday before and after the Race.
Each day truly is a gift from God, and one we shouldn’t wish away just to get to some unguaranteed day in the future.
…as for Stan…if that’s your name, thank you for rhyming with “plan.” I say your name a lot and feel like I know you…but I don’t… 😀
