By nature I am a planner. I plan everything. And then I re-plan.

I probably spend 90 percent of my time thinking about the future and planning for it. I consider my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I anticipate problems and consider contingencies. I have a Plan A.

But, unfortunately, Plan A rarely happens. When it does, it is awesome. But usually for me Plan B is the norm. Like an old friend of mine used to say, “Do-do occurs.”

Like today. I’m sitting in the Delta Crown Room in Nashville. My flight to Dallas was cancelled because of ice in Dallas. I am scheduled on the next flight out, but I have a three-hour wait. Ugh.

The funny thing is that I am on my way to have dinner with John Eldredge. We’ve had a difficult time getting together. Last fall, we were supposed to go fly fishing together. Just the two of us. I had eagerly anticipated the trip for months.

But, two days before the trip, I got a call from John’s agent. He informed me that John had been thrown from a horse and knocked out. Worse, he had broken both wrists. Obviously, we had to scuttle the trip.

So, once John was better, we regrouped and rescheduled. Rather than wait for the weather to get warm enough to fish, we decided to get together for dinner with our wives. What could possibly go wrong?

A month ago, I made reservations at the Black Bear Restaurant outside of Colorado Springs. This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Gail flew up a few days early to spend time with my oldest daughter who also lives in Colorado. I called them this morning. My plan was to arrive in the Springs at 2:40 p.m. “I’ll call you when I land,” I promised. “Let’s plan to meet at the hotel and then drive to the restaurant together.”

Everything was going according to plan. I arrived at the Nashville airport a full hour before my 10:40 a.m. flight. I then proceeded to check in. It was only then that I learned my flight had been cancelled.

“Can you book me on another carrier?” I pleaded with the agent.

“Nope. Everything is booked solid into Colorado Springs and Denver,” she responded.

“Bummer,” I sighed. “I have a 7:00 p.m. dinner reservation.”

I am now supposed to land in Colorado Springs at 6:15 p.m. The restaurant is probably forty-five minutes from the airport—assuming the roads are clear. And, of course, it is snowing in Colorado Springs.

When I was younger, this would have stressed me out. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. I was. But I definitely wasn’t stressed. I thanked the agent and began to wonder what kind of adventure awaited me.

Over the years, I have learned that my Plan B is often God’s Plan A. Nothing happens by accident. To quote Richard Rohr, “everything belongs.” My daughter Megan actually wrote a beautiful post on this yesterday.

I think Plan B is God’s way of reminding me that He’s in charge. And, frankly, it’s better that way. I don’t care how hard I plan, I can’t anticipate everything. Nor do I always know what’s best. But He does.

In God’s economy there is no Plan B. He is sovereign. As difficult as things get—as chaotic as they may appear—He only has Plan A. And, quite frankly, I’m content to rest in that. I may not understand all the reasons, but I am content to rest in His Providence and enjoy the adventure.

How about you?

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