Planning For The Expected...

 

Some things come as no surprise.

I know people talk about being surprised by unexpected events, but today I'm asking about the anticipated moments of life. How do you plan for the expected moments ahead?

Our entire family recently traveled to Illinois to cheer for Aaron's girlfriend as she ran the Chicago Marathon. Tracy has been training in Orlando. She's been looking forward to this race for many months. So we all went to share the adventure.

Tracy's course was clear. The distance was 26.2 miles. The route was mapped and measured. We knew every road she would travel as she ran her race.

So, we formulated a plan that would make it possible for us to intersect her race several times along the way. We'd jump on the train, ride to a carefully chosen station, jump off and walk a few blocks so we could be on the sidewalk cheering for Tracy as she ran past. Then we'd jump on another train and do it again.

We did that all morning.

We did that until Tracy's race was run.
   We did that until her marathon was finished.

She said it was great to have our encouragement at strategic points along the way. It gave her a boost to know we'd be there, cheering for her as she ran her race. 
   Now, I don't want you to be confused. 
      She had to run her race, not us.
         She trained. 
            She is the one who prepared.
               She stepped up and she did the hard work.
But this is also true.
   We helped.
      We surprised her with support along the way.
         We shared some memorable moments. 
            We encouraged her to run well.
               We celebrated with her.
                  And we threw a party after she finished her race.

We expected her to show up at certain points, and we planned to be there so we could cheer for her at those important places.

So let me ask you, "How do you plan for the expected?

What arrangements are you making to be present at critical points along the route your loved ones are running? Have you taken the time to map their course? Have you made plans for your journey to intersect theirs?

Where is your course going to crisscross their race? Where are you determined to be, so you can offer support and encouragement to the people you love?
   Will you be there when their baby is born?
      Will you be there for their first day of school?
         How about their first ball game?
            Are you going to cheer when they move out and get their own place?
               What about their first real job?

How about Holidays?
   Will you adjust your course to intersect theirs at Christmas?
      New Years? 
         4th of July?
            Memorial Day? 
               Easter?
                  Thanksgiving?
Do you think their route will overlap yours without a plan? You know these holidays are coming. Are you planning to make the most of the expected days ahead?

What about birthdays? Are you mapping your waypoints to mark any birthdays?
   Which ones? 
      Are you going to applaud them at 16?
         How about 21?
            How about 50?

Do you think you'll expend some effort so you can encourage their marriage?
   Will you be there, cheering and clapping for them on their 25th?
      Have you made plans to gather a crowd and celebrate their 50th?

And how do you honor someone who has finished a race?
What effort are you putting forth to rejoice with those who have run well?  Will you be there cheering when a leg of their journey is run?
   How about graduation ceremonies? Are you going?
      What would it take for you to travel to a friend's retirement party? 
         Doesn't it make sense to be there at the finish line?
            Don't you know you'll only be there if you get up and go there?

I know you can't do it all. Neither can I.
I know it's not all one sided and it's not only up to you.
You can't do it all.

But you can do some.  

So, tell me. What are you doing to make memories, mark moments and add value to the people you love? Are you helping them run their race, or just sending them off to make the journey with no ongoing encouragement and blessing from you? 

I'm praying you'll take the time to study the route your loved ones will run. I'm praying you'll make the effort to connect with them as they run their race, and I'm praying you'll be a support and encouragement as they try to run the race set before them.

Life is a challenge. It's a marathon, not a sprint. We all need a few friends who cheer for us along the way, so it's time to get started. The race has already begun...

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  -  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 
        

 

 

Comments

[Becky Hunter]

I love this. I mean really, really love this. Thanks for writing such an inspiring message and thanks even more for living your life like this. You are so awesome, Mark! (OH and Tracy, WAY TO RUN!!!) YAY!!!

[DC Curry]

Great wisdom, thanks for sharing. As a young buck, i needed to hear this. I'll have to pull this post up and read it a couple times a year.

[Ginny Lawley]

Planning for the expected is precisely what helps you deal with the unexpected. We need to face the unexpected without regrets and with the strentgh we gain from being intentional about how we live our lives with the people we love.

[Heather Stevens]

Pastor Mark! 1 Corinthians 9:24 is my all time favorite verse EVER!! it's not hard to see why :)
you are AWESOME!