One of the books I am reading tells a story about apples. A woman who held unshakable preferences approached life with fervor. When she wanted an apple, there was no wavering. If by chance life presented her with an orange, or cherries, she wasted no time exploring the juicy sections or tart flavor, because she was in pursuit of an apple. The world was divided into apple and not-apple.
Another man in the chapter had reserved cars months ahead of time for a vacation. At each location there was to be an economy rental waiting for him and his wife. But at the first leg, the person behind the desk apologized.
"I'm sorry, the car you wanted is not available. Here are the keys to a Mustang convertible." The man fumed. Begrudgingly he opened the trunk to load suitcases, and complained to his wife about the incompetence. A few days later they flew to the next destination, and went to pick up the reserved car. Again the employee apologized.
"Please excuse the mix up. The car you asked for is not available but here is a Mercedes Benz." The couple climbed into the shiny white car, and he again berated the inconvenience. Their vacation continued, with a series of unmet expectations, and yet the man seemed unable to enjoy what someone else might consider a windfall.
Perhaps such disappointments are rooted in a belief that the world is trying to swindle us. It connives to give us less than we deserve. But what if we open up to the notion that God's plans for us are far sweeter than we could concoct on our own?
