What Was I Thinking? (Devotion 2.6)

I can’t tell you how many times this question has rolled through my mind…”What was I thinking?”  Sometimes it is prompted by those around me asking me what I was thinking.  And then, I can hear the response now (not from me)… “He wasn’t, that’s the problem.”  (Sometimes it just be like that). 

There are times when situations happen and they come out of nowhere.  I really did think through things and this is just what happened (what had happened was…).  As much as we try to plan and prepare, things can just go haywire.  And then there are times when I fly by the seat of my pants and everything goes better than expected.  

Planning is great and needed.  Sometimes quick decisions are called for and vital.  We can find ourselves in situations we didn’t plan or expect either way.  I think this is where wisdom comes in.  When we pay attention to those who offer sage advice, when we take the time to really listen to the stories of others, we can find such guidance in their words.  

That’s one of the many values of the Bible.  There have been way too many occasions I read the Bible and think… “What were they thinking?!”  They did ridiculous things and made some of the most foolish mistakes.  And then I look in the mirror.  Me too, Israelites, me too.  But we continue to learn and grow.  We listen, we pay attention, we seek guidance, and we also tune into our own experiences.  We often know the answer, even if it is buried deep within.  We learn from mistakes and we keep moving.  We don’t give up.  And we do think.  And we do try.  And we do work hard.  We just keep moving.  

Don’t let foolishness derail you.  Don’t let bad decisions keep you from seeking what is right and good.  And don’t stop taking chances.  Failure is a powerful teacher.  Wisdom is often costly.  Keep on thinking and reading and listening.  Growth is coming.