Simply Deep: unplanned, plan
Simply Deep.
A phrase of two paired words offer something new that keeps surfacing and likened to simplexity.
Simplexity. A unique word learned recently meaning: “a neologism which proposes a possible complementary relationship between complexity and simplicity.”
Simply Deep, a new short reflective piece for Arise Blog with something simple yet full of possible complexities. Somewhat like that of ordinary. In God’s eyes, ordinary is attention to reality, what often feels mundane, yet intentionally present to the small details that matter where every dot and tittle captivates His eye.
Before going on let’s pause and take a moment to ponder.
Maybe even look around at your surroundings and listen.
Or close your eyes to notice what appears in your imagination or thoughts.
What is captivating you today?
Take notice.
Below is a small portion of an experience from just a few weeks ago, a window into moments that truly felt and were simply deep.
simply deep: unplanned, plan
Recently, I took a solo road trip from New Mexico to SoCal. A few months earlier I began planning my days, times, and places to stop, visit, and explore. Yet of course, also leaving room for the unplanned or as many who know me— the spontaneous.
What I’ve learned from experience with the unplanned, plan is that you must anticipate it! Over time you begin to hope for and often pray for it! The plan will take its course no matter what, like a treasured conversation, it will just happen!
Honestly, a change in plans more often than not excites me in this way: The “unplanned, plan” is God at work! And what I want!
This kind of change leaves an opening to ask, “God, what is coming?” as we walk along the paths of our daily moments.
Moments where the small delights of ordering sliders and pancakes satisfy; unexpectedly waiting for your room to be ready and being offered drinks; another where leisure gifted strangers to become friends through conversation; a breakfast meant for one turned to two, and then three as a young waiter joins in —such delightful treasures and interesting features awaited.
God’s treasures are the delights of His people engaging in the unplanned, plans He orchestrates.
The recalling of the word providence surfaces as we ponder unplanned, plans.
providence, the quality in Divinity on which humankind
bases the belief in a benevolent intervention in human affairs
and the affairs of the world.
(one definition among several by www.britannica.com)
While in SoCal, the “unplanned, plan” arose in spontaneous decision to spend two nights on the Queen Mary, a ship I learned so much about in those few 48 hours.
She’s beautiful from port-side to starboard, to passageways from side to side, and then from front to end, end to front, and later in the evening gazing across her at the Long Beach shoreline. I too was truly smitten by her, as were some of her first passengers who called her “Their Love!”
While we know there are times when unplanned, plans can not be for leisure instead more of struggle and possibly tragic. Upon strolling the decks and discovery of the Queen Mary, you are invited to step into a small side room where there is a short video playing. It is a story of passengers who survived the holocaust because of her openness to take them across the seas to safety. In tears, they recall the word providence, or so it is the unplanned, plan of being vulnerable and suddenly open to ask “God, what is coming?”
At times the suddenly may be of excited anticipation, or of panic to flee, or something of courage which I imagine those first passengers on the Queen Mary chose which was to “Do it afraid!”
The holocaust passengers or anyone crossing a bounty of ocean must grab hold, and cling to a promise as they leap into the unplanned, plan:
“Perfect love casts out fear”—1 John 4:18
Selah
May something from simply deep: unplanned, plan invite you to lean into God, and His most loving providence.
