This is a photo of Budapest, Hungary at night from the Danube River. We were lucky enough to visit this incredible country this past spring. The scene in this photo is iconic and peaceful.. it's what people picture in their minds when they think of Budapest.
But the country of Hungary has an interesting history. Their history as a country includes being conquered several times, being split up, and even having a revolution. They also have a history of picking the wrong side in wars. In World War I they allied with Germany and Austria. This alliance caused many Hungarians to die for foreign interests and lead to the overrunning of Hungary by the Atlantic countries and the splitting up of the country of Hungary.
They didn't do any better with World War II when they once again sided with Germany against the Soviets. After that defeat, the Soviets took over the country and stayed for 44 years. I bet that was not how the country of Hungary thought things would play out when they jumped into the fray.
Which brings me to my thoughts for today. This morning I came across this sentence... God writes the best stories... and it gave me pause. Then, when I opened my Bible to read, one of the first verses I read was this one
"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." Proverbs 19:21 the message
2017 is almost gone. How did your year turn out? Did it turn out as you expected? Did things turn out differently than you thought they would? I can tell you that my 2017 did not go the way I had planned..... AT ALL! Truly this has been one of the most topsy turvy years I have ever gone through. It seems like everything I had planned out got thrown into a big old blender and instead of making milkshakes.. something else entirely came out of the mix.
And I have to tell you, there were multiple times that I questioned whether or not God knew what He was doing. He kept adding different ingredients to the mix and I would look at Him like, are you sure God? I'm not sure that this milkshake is going to taste good with that thrown in there. And there were some ingredients thrown in that I did not like at all. Things that I didn't like the taste of.
And yet, here I sit at the end of the year... in a new city... in a new to me house... in a whole different place than I had planned to be... drinking in this life that God has mixed up for me in the blender... and I am drawn to the statement I read this morning... God writes the best stories.
Wow! What a true statement. This story, this mixed ingredient milkshake entitled 2017, has turned out way different than I had planned for, but it is tasting better than anything I would have come up with on my own. The story is sweeter, better, well blended, and well written because it is written and directed by God.
Don't get me wrong, God didn't take out the bitter parts of the recipe, but He blended those parts along with the sweet so that this year's bitter parts harmonize with the sweet in such a way as to be more palatable, to taste better. Kind of like the blending of savory and sweet or hot and sweet in cooking. It works. And it all works beautifully.
So, if you are like me, and you are coming up on the end of 2017 and thinking that none of this is how you had thought things would go, I pray that you find solace in the fact that you are not the one who is writing the story, God is. And I can tell you that God is good and that God loves you.
And so, I am sitting here, in my new to me office, enjoying my coffee, and the sunrise, and the story of this crazy roller coaster of a year. And I think to myself, God really does write the best stories. I am so grateful and I can't wait to see the story He has planned for next year. (I will admit I am kind of hoping for a few less free falls in the roller coaster, just saying).
Just a little follow up on the country of Hungary. Although their history is full of plans that did not go the way they had thought they would, they are now a solidly independent country. Budapest is listed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. They are known for their architecture and culinary delights. The Hungarians are an amazing people who kept their unique language and culture alive even through 44 years of Soviet rule, when their language and culture were basically outlawed. So, Hungary is a very different country than what the leaders had planned, but the photos below illustrate how beautiful the story has become. Have a great Christmas and New Year!
