Yesterday…
…Pictures of Saturday afternoon’s wedding appeared on social media. I’ve been reflecting on the months of preparation… dresses for the bride and bridesmaids, suits for the gents, guest lists, invitations, church service, hotel, meal, disco…
And then the day itself, friends and family turned up – best clothes, best smiles, best wishes… great service, great meal, great joy… As far as we were concerned everything went perfectly.
The old adage, ‘Perfect planning prevents poor performance’ was clearly demonstrated.
…Chris told us about his Saturday afternoon …a long, involved rambling tale about Kirkley and Pakefield football club… friends and relations he’d met, who said what to whom…
…His niece’s daughter-in-law, sitting next to him, said that she didn’t feel well. She left. Later her husband came and asked where she was. Chris didn’t know. Husband went looking for her.
He discovered that she’d had a baby. Perfect planning? She didn’t know that she was pregnant, let alone about to give birth!
…I went to Mark, to have my hair cut. I asked him why he doesn’t have a barber’s pole outside his shop. We remembered its significance – of times when barbers were also dentists and surgeons.
I googled it… 1462: The ‘Company of Barbers’ receive a royal charter… 1540: Henry VIII creates the ‘United Barber Surgeon’s Company’… Barbers and surgeons work together until the mid-1740s…
If I’d had my wisdom teeth or appendix removed Mark and I would both need better planning.
This morning…
…Reading Mark 10… Jesus’ disciples don’t understand, can’t cope, when he talks about the plans… He’ll be betrayed, arrested, killed, and come back to life.
They can’t cope with the unplanned either. People bring little children to Jesus; they’re sent away. Blind Bartimaeus shouts out for Jesus to heal him; he’s an unnecessary inconvenience. Jesus makes time, shows care and compassion, blesses the children, heals Bartimaeus…
…Musing… Recognising those aspects of life that should be planned perfectly… Embracing and dealing well with those that can’t be planned… Knowing the difference…
malcolmsmusings.org 