I usually know what is best; or so I want to believe. I know how Cherry should spend her time. I can anticipate what Carli and Whitney should be doing with their homework. I even think I know what is best in life. If I could stop for a moment I would realize that most of what I believe to be knowledge is my ego working overtime!
Life takes on an interesting perspective when one realizes just how much knowledge does exist. My child is now a young adult with insights beyond my perception of her years. Can I embrace this new adult? Peers at work see things from differing perspectives. Am I willing to collaborate, even if I disagree with their goals? Will I listen until I understand when my wife holds a view different from mine?
It is one thing to answer these questions in a quiet time of reflection. The challenge of living this out for one day can be daunting. It is hard to imagine adopting this approach to others as a way of living.
In the past few days, I have been open to unique insights by those I least expected. I cannot say that I was open, rather that the insight caught me off guard. The net effect was that I saw life or a person differently. A quiet person often in the background took the lead in raising money for charity without any visible benefit to himself. A child saw the grace working out in life where I was blind. A friend shared my burden that I thought would overwhelm me before too long.
God is clearly working in people's lives in ways I did not imagined. God has a plan for your life and mine. God also has a plan for those I question and dislike.
“Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome?” (Romans 14.4) The answer is easy, no. The answer is also the beginning of understanding what God is all about, restoration.
Today, I will not interfere.
