We plan, God laughs
“We plan, God laughs.”
I’ve always disliked this phrase. I’m not completely sure why. Apparently it’s a Yiddish saying, but I have heard it quoted so many times as if it were from the Bible. I think I’ve struggled with it because it has some truth to it, never felt more strongly than when what you imagine is a beginning comes to a sudden end, like a waiter stacking plates so high all to come crashing down with one misstep. But I think I mostly dislike it because it makes God sound so far away, not with boots on the ground.
As we enter this Holy Week with Palm Sunday, I cannot help but think about the people looking at Jesus on a donkey and going, “This is it? This is the BIG plan?” They had waited lifetimes, imagining what was next all the way back to the promise of a savior at the fall in Genesis, to the promised land out of Egypt, to the great King David, to Isaiah’s visions of a savior, to a donkey? A man on a donkey?
This scene makes me think of all the times I’ve complained to God, “This isn’t what I imagined, this isn’t what I planned!”, both when I was surprised and disappointed with the outcome. The beauty of it all is that God’s plan is always one, communion with us. It was there at the beginning in the garden, and it is here for us now with the death and resurrection of Jesus. He laid his life down so we could enter into God’s love fully, completely, wholeheartedly. He cares about your plans, he has great ones for you and he’s walking right beside you as you discover the adventure with him. BUT! Let’s go into this week forgetting all of the plans we had for Lent, this year… and focus on the main thing, entering communion with the one who loves us above all else.
