Follow the Purpose-full Road

My dentist's office called last week to tell me that I missed the appointment I didn't know I had. How embarrassing. The problem was that I had lost my calendar for an entire week. Life stopped until it was recovered.

My calendar contains most of my brain cells. Without it, I might accidentally deliver Daniel to ballet and Allie to the fourth grade boys' basketball practice. Or what if I accidentally delivered Daniel to one of my speaking engagements instead? Can you picture him blinking dazedly from the podium of a women's conference? And what about the orthodontist appointments? With five kids and 60-plus ill-fitting molars, missing the Rhea appointments might leave a black hole in the orthodontist's schedule that could cause the office date book to implode.

Since losing my calendar was so like losing my brain, I ended up bouncing from place to place in Scarecrow fashion, trying to find anyone who had even a clue where the rogue planner might be. It was like a bad Oz scene. I was singing "If I Only Had a Brain" at every stop. My head definitely had that "full of stuffin" feeling. My calendar doesn't exactly unravel any riddle for every individual, but it does generally help keep the individuals heading to the right appointments, obligations and social events.

The reason it's such a tragedy to misplace that brain-thing is because it's so completely crammed full of those events: meetings, kids' guitar and art lessons, writing deadlines, speaking dates; a leather-bound tornado waiting to touch down. It's a twister!

When I finally found the stray calendar, I really had to give it a pretty serious analysis. Okay, first I did the "found the calendar" happy dance of joy. But after that, I knew it was time to take a look at the schedule. Anytime losing a date book causes extreme hyperventilation it's time to seek treatment. Treatment, for me, consists of a thorough examination of the schedule, and prompt surgical removal of unnecessary obligations, followed by daily application of affected area (calendar) to a prescribed altar Christ's.

Dorothy had to choose a direction on her yellow brick journey. The Scarecrow gave her some pretty brainless counsel: "Of course, people do go both ways." It reminds me of how I can end up meeting myself coming and going when my calendar is out of whack. But that's the straw-headed road. There's no peace there. There is, however, great peace in heading down God's road of true purpose. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." (TEV)

Every now and then, we need to pull off the road, yellow-bricked or not, and think about the Father's plans for us. Take some time to ponder His plans for you. Who knows? You might think of things you never thunk before!

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Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, "Soup for the Soul-Tastes Just Like Chicken", and "Amusing Grace", at your local Christian bookstore. "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge-Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style", will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site at: www.rhondarhea.net.