Our Plans ... His Steps …

I counted, trece, catorce, quince … that is thirteen, fourteen, fifteen … as he completed his lagartijas. I smiled and asked, “¿Cuantas lagartijas hiciste?” That is, “How many push-ups did you do?”

I love the Spanish word for push-ups, ‘lagartija’. Simply, a lizard. Why not? The visual is perfect, right?

We introduced ourselves, chatted a bit, and then he asked if I wanted to do another set of lagartijas with him. I smiled again. He did not realize who he was asking. Just another OLD man, right? He pushed through to get another fifteen. And the old man ... continued with, “Dieciseis, diecisiete”, and so on. He then knew that had been taken by a ringer. Ha :)

Ricardo y Rogelio

It was just another peaceful morning on the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta. I asked if he’d like to join me climbing to the Mirador de la Cruz. Something that we’ve enjoyed several times since, and will continue. The following week, a visit to the Optometry business, where he’s employed. And today, joining us a second time at church, has reinforced a new and likely lasting friendship.

Through this relationship with my new friend, Rogelio, I’ve been reminded of some valuable lessons, which I have found while reading through the book of Proverbs. Over the past two months I’ve read a chapter a day, focusing particularly with regard to wisdom. As well, those verses that have grabbed my attention.

Chapter 16, verse 3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” So, there needs to be the intention of commitment ~ to the Lord. OK! Continuing a tad further in verse nine, we read, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Now wait a second. We need to commit, and then our plans will succeed. It is we who plan our course ... we who plan our routine, that which we’re going to accomplish for any given day, but … the Lord is determining the actual steps. Stay with me for one more verse! Chapter twenty, twenty-four, “A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand His way.”

Perhaps I’m wrong, but here’s my current take away from these verses written by Solomon, said to be the wisest of all. We ponder, we educate ourselves, we search and prepare for what we’ll become and how we’d like to proceed in life. And in this process of planning and of committing, to be in step (pun intended) with ultimately the Lord’s direction for each moment. Allowing His character of humility, grace, joy, relationship, gratefulness … among many others … to be ready for and to be impacting our world at any given moment.

I … we … can not understand His way. But, if we’re honest with the commitment, if we’re intentional with the plans, then, the Lord is able to determine … He is able to direct our steps. And sometimes, those steps lead to the cross. Sometimes those steps lead to new and vibrant friendship.

The view from 'El Mirador de la Cruz'

On that Monday morning a few weeks ago, I had absolutely no thought that Rogelio would be placed in my way. My plan, my course was to simply walk to the Malecón, and then up the steps to the Cross. But within “my” plan, within “my” course, the Lord directed the “steps”.

Might we all have a plan, a course in life … but wait with expectation, with anticipation, and with excitement for those particular steps in which the Lord will direct. 

 

 

A Room ~ Without A View

Though I’ve done no scientific research, I do believe that the most celebrated view is that of a sunrise or sunset. Think about it for yourself. Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, the stars, the ocean … all of these present some of the most amazing visual experiences that we’ve ever enjoyed. But ~~ who has not sat, while dining, while sitting upon a mountain top, or upon the oceans shores, from your hotel room, or as Rob Georg sings, "Sunsets from the Ranch", and lingered while the sun slowly dipped beyond the horizon? By itself, it is completely spectacular! Yet, add a few clouds, perhaps a sailboat, or a couple walking upon the seashore ~ and you have just magnified your moment in untold ways.

But let’s say that your view is obstructed? Perhaps it’s a cloudy day. Maybe there are structures that prevent you from enjoying that most wonderful moment. Or, perhaps it is creation itself.

~ The 'Pearly Gates' ~

In 2007, I had the privilege to join a dozen of my firefighter comrades on a 11,249 foot climb of Mount Hood in Oregon. Your day actually begins the previous day. That is, you begin your ascent at approximately 11pm the night before,. The goal is to time your arrival in order to capture the dawn of the new day. Yet, on that particular day we experienced one major problem. Due to a couple of our comrades having climbing difficulties, and hence having to descend, we arrived at what is called the ‘Pearly Gates’ only minutes before the rising of that amazing ball of fire. Because of our late arrival, ice had begun to fall from the narrow passage of the ‘Pearly Gates’. Dave, our most excellent guide, made the painful decision to abandon the climb. The sunrise goal ~ well, it would be missed. So, the safety of the moment and the crew took preeminence. The point ~ At 11,100 feet, we were but a mere 150 feet from seeing what would have been one of those most spectacular sunrises. Instead, the mountain herself blocked our scene.

Now fifteen years later we found ourselves in a room without a view. Though we had been “upgraded” from our typical unit, it surely seemed more like a downgrade. You see, if you have reservations, made nearly a year in advance, to the next higher condos, the presumption would be an ocean view. Initially we were hopeful, as our room number was ‘7168’. That must be the seventh floor, correct? Oh no! That would somehow be the seventh building. And it was on the first floor. So what began as a potential ocean view became one of jungle plants.

Say What?

After several encounters with multiple different employees from each of the high-end to lower-end units, over that evening and the following morning, I finally resolved that “Que sera, sera”.

It would be a couple days afterwards that the true resolve occurred. While watching the trees across our courtyard, as the gentle breeze created such a beautiful sway of the leaves, I was reminded of a simple truth. That is, that a view is solely a perspective. You see, that 11,100 foot climb in ascent of Mount Hood … it was not lacking view, only the expected view. The same is true of our first floor condo. Though it was not the expected view … there was, and is a view to be enjoyed.

Might we recognize that our rooms without an apparent view … do indeed have a view. If only we change our perspective. 

No sunrise ~ But indeed a spectacular view!

Anticipated View ... That Wasn't

 

                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O93IiMkmwTI