"Are You Sure You Know What You're Doing?"

Practically everyday, I travel a certain road here in town.  It is the main road to access, my daughters' schools, our grocery store, Target, etc.  Recently, there has been quite a bit of construction on this road, which has given it's inhabitants mixed feelings and has even caused a bit of news coverage.
You see, this simple two lane road had portions lined with beautiful old magnolia trees, the remainder; residential portions, have had to allow the city to tear up the front yards all to create: sidewalks.

While I don't know all the logistics, I do know that a certain part of your property is indeed not your property as it becomes flush with the curb/road. Thus: sidewalks are being built down the entire length of this road.  I have to say, although I wasn't in favor of these sidewalks ( I even commented how now all the kids skipping school will have a safe place to walk ) I do have to hand it to the workers.

We all know the weather has been crazy lately.  One day we need heat, the next we are turning on the a/c.  But, one day brought my attention to the "working conditions" of these guys like no element or sudden shower could; the human condition. 

I was stopped, waiting patiently for the cute guy in the hard hat to flip the sign to "go" when I saw them.  Two houses, very similar in build and in design.  Both had beautiful hand-laid walkways that were having to be repaired and shortened due to the sidewalk installation.  At the first house, I noticed an older gentleman talking casually with the workers.  He had a small garden trowel in hand and a wheel barrel close by.  He was working in the flower beds that just "happened" to be right beside the area where the workers were re-laying bricks.  I could see good natured laughing and exchanges while the workers did what they had been hired to do; finish what they started. Let's call this man "Jim."

Then, there was the next house.  The same type of work was being done; re-laying of bricks for the walkway by a group of men on their hands and knees in about 80 degree weather, with one exception; "her."  Let's call her "Mary-Helen."

Standing over the workers with a deeply creviced scowl, arms folded, pink cardigan and hair cut in a hostile gray bob, she was "supervising."  Every move, every time they grabbed a scoop of cement, every brick laid, every pause for a water break, she was there....scowling.  Although I couldn't understand the Spanish conversation of the workers; I am fairly certain they weren't complimenting her lovely " Ann Taylor" sweater.

Now, don't get me wrong I understand wanting to make sure something is done properly. As a single parent, I don't have anyone else to "run things by." But, anyone could tell what was going on.  I don't think Mary-Helen was just checking things out, she was making sure "it better be done right!" 

Now, I realize you can't size up a person's career history by sitting outside their house for 5 minutes, but I can say with a certain assurance, Mary-Helen was never a brick mason. 

How does that warrant a retelling here via blog?  These days it seems more than ever, God is speaking to me in such subtle and obvious ways.  Just like "Mary-Helen" had no business being in a "supervisory" postion with brick layers and construction workers.....I have no business being in a supervisor in God's plans. 

How many times have we stood at the "letting go" point, with our arms crossed, shaking a finger at God and letting Him know "He better get this right."  Wow.  We quote Jeremiah 29:11, and comfort our friends with the same ideas: "God knows the plans He has for you, He knows what He's doing."  Yet, there we stand, daring Him to mess up.

Yet, somehow...our God sees our frailty. our humanity. He sees "Jim." He knows sitting still and completely trusting? Well, we're not all there yet. We work in our "flower beds" close by, with inadequate tools in hand, just in case He needs our help.  I feel Him smile and say: "It's okay, I've got this."

When the work order was proposed here in Greensboro, it read: "all repairs, both cosmetically and physically will be covered by the City of Greensboro."  So, no matter what happened, both Jim and Mary-Helen received the same outcome.  But the process? One stayed the same, one probably made a few friends and probably received a little more attention to details.

When the word says: "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Phil. 1:6) here's the crazy thing; it's true.  Arms crossed, or standing nearby, or resting in the assurance of it all, He just doesn't need our help.  We aren't qualified to be God.

 He is working all things together for our good, even when we don't feel it, see it or even when we feel like giving up. 

Things could always be worse...you could have Mary-Helen standing over you "supervising" you.