Pastor Lynell
by Lynell Caudillo
Do you ever wonder if anyone is in charge? Is God really at the helm or are we on a planet that is spinning hopelessly out of control? Oh, the laws of nature will keep us from getting so close to the sun that it will incinerate us, or so far away that we will freeze, but in the big picture of things, who is in control?
It seems as if our best laid plans can so easily go awry…Last October at the Seamont League High School Golf Tournament, Adam was in a three way tie for the last slot to go to State. In a “sudden death play-off” (no kidding) on a 19th hole, Adam parred the hole to win it and was told that in doing so, he had secured a place at State in May.
Fast forward to mid-April and the call comes to attend the first practice. There, Adam is told that what happened in October didn’t count. He would have to play in a qualifying tournament at Ft. Lewis on Monday May 16. That day 36 students played, and the top 14 secured places at the State Tournament. Adam placed 15th. A tough blow, but having already made arrangements to be away, we decided to go to Port Ludlow on the weekend of the State Tournament. But remember “the best laid plans”? Our beloved Lucky got sick late on Saturday night. After a visit to the emergency vet, we decided we couldn’t leave our sick pup in the care of a dog sitter, so we cancelled our plans to go away. Sunday it rained… more accurately, it poured. But Lucky began to feel better.
Late Monday morning, the Mt. Rainier Athletic Director called to say that a student had withdrawn from the State Tournament and Adam was the first alternate. Did he want to go? The practice round was at 2 p.m. that day…Well, a few phone calls later and we threw his clubs and our clothes into the van and hit I-5 north to Lynden, WA. We arrived in time for dinner and the coaches meeting, and for Adam to hit some practice balls.
His tee time was 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday May 24th! The rest, as they say, is history! He didn’t place, but he got to play and that was significant, after all of the various “qualifying” hassles.
Who is in control? Timing is everything…had Lucky not gotten sick, we would have been in Port Ludlow and would not have gotten the call to go…! So many “twists of fate”? Or was this all a part of God’s plan? It is hard to know how our choices, circumstances, and God’s will are intertwined. But this is for sure: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Ours is to pray, to trust and obey!
See you in worship!