It hasn't put me off scheming, completely, but at times I wonder why I bother. I plan, organize, time-manage, equip, assemble, deploy, and, in some cases, accessorize; not to mention hurry, fret, placate, rearrange, orient, and clock-watch. But, it just doesn't quite work out. To paraphrase German military strategist Field Marshall Moltke: "No plan survives actual contact with the enemy."
I don't think either of these men would want their thoughts misconstrued. Moltke was really saying "fret not;" and rather, to always plan well, recognizing you just cannot anticipate everything. Have enough contingencies that you can be creative in your response when the inevitable breakdown occurs. In fact, he not-so-famously also said, "Strategy is a system of expedients."
And Burns was apologizing to a mouse.
He recognized the fact that disappointment often follows the realization that our plans are not unfolding as we intended. Burns is sorry his plowing has destroyed the mouse's home, but he is also a little envious that the mouse can focus only on the present, while Burns regrets the past and fears the future.
I've had good reason, from time to time, to reflect on the philosophies of these two men. I had a scheme or two go astray, more than one plan expire in the face of reality. These things happen to us, don't they?” Frankly, all the planning in the world can't prevent them.
We can and should make plans.
But we need to be ready to "roll with the punch" because the punch is going to come. We will have to make a course correction, to put it in nautical terms. And beyond the "what" of that creative response is something perhaps even more important: the "how."
We are free to choose any solution that satisfies us.
We could just throw up our hands and leave. Let's face it: if you don't feel angry at the unfolding events, the other go-to choice is self-blame followed by surrender. And speaking of anger, we can, as my Great Aunt Vera used to say, "throw a hissy fit." It's emotionally gratifying and, conveniently, usually shifts the blame from ourselves to someone else. Most of us think all of our options lie on a continuum between these two poles: surrender or strike out at someone else; flight or fight. Most people don't care to consider another response, to step outside the usual.
Freedom allows them to leave it at that.
But, to sum up the 1st Corinthians 8 passage: God does care when you use your freedom carelessly, especially as it affects those who may not be as strong of will or certainty as we are. And how are we to know who is "strong enough" to not be impacted by our choices, actions, statements?
Therein lies the challenge. Paul offers a solution to the believers in Corinth. You might not like it, though.
You might have to change your best laid plans.
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A different version of this reflection appeared in 2012 as “Burns Day.”
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Photo: https://remadepreacher.com/spiritual-battle-plan/
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 28, 2018)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
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Join us Friday morning for Lectionary Breakfast (Waco “Egg and I” Restaurant; Outside door bear the back). We start at 8:00 and wrap up around 9:00. The food is tasty and the fellowship is sweet.
We have a plan, but we’re flexible.
Blessings,
Steve
