Learn: Anything Can Happen in 2019

Eight years ago this month, a school bus hit the back of my car. Now, before you start picturing a school bus full of screaming kids, a distraught bus driver, and me on the side of the road with a wrecked car—let me tell you, it wasn’t like that. But, my car was wrecked.

That morning, on a sunny day in the middle of January, I went to work as I always did. I parked my car in the spot I always parked. Then I walked into work thinking about the meetings I had that day.

About an hour later, a man wanting to sell the school bus for his nonprofit parked the bus in the back of the parking lot of the church where I worked. He put the emergency brake on in the bus, then went into the building to see if he could leave the bus there for about an hour. Only, within the five minutes he was gone, the bus’ emergency brake failed.

Just as I was about to begin a meeting, one of our head pastors knocked on my office door. He popped his head in and with a rather concerned look on his face, he asked, “Melissa, do you drive a silver Honda accord?”

When I said yes, he asked me to come with him. He led me to the lobby where through the big glass window, I could see my car—only it wasn’t exactly where I had left it. The bus had rolled into its trunk and pushed my car out of the parking space and into another vehicle. Thankfully, no one had been hurt.

On a sunny day, when I wasn’t even driving, my car was totaled.

At that exact moment, another pastor came over to introduce me to the bus driver. He put his arm around me as if I was going to get upset—but then to his surprise, I started laughing. Sure, most people would be upset their car was wrecked—and believe me, I wasn’t thrilled—but this wreck was somewhat outlandish. And it reminded me of how little control we have over our lives.

Just a few days before the bus hit my car, I had been driving home in the middle of a snow storm. All the way, I had been praying for nothing to happen to my car. Then, on a sunny day, when I wasn’t even driving, my car was totaled.

In order to get where we want to go, we need a plan. But, we also need to be prepared for the unexpected.

As this is the month, to plan our year ahead, I wanted to share this story with you to remind us that anything can happen. That we need to hold our plans in balance with a spirit of flexibility. Now, that is not to say we shouldn’t make plans, set goals, or go after our dreams. Like John C. Maxwell says, “Hope is not a strategy.” In order to get where we want to go, we need a plan. But, we also need to be prepared for the unexpected.

If you are joining us, and filling out our Start Here 2019: Dream Planner, to move through this year more purposefully, know that the unexpected may happen. Be prepared as these things may slow you down, perhaps even change the way your plans look. But don’t for a second, believe that these unexpected things are meant to tell you to stop or give up. In fact, I have found they are often strengthening and preparing us for the very things we’re working toward.

So keep dreaming, planning, and taking steps forward. Don’t be afraid of the unexpected, but don’t be surprised either. Let’s be people who roll with the punches, and who don’t give up easily.