in a nutshell - making a plan, but being ready to change it

Among the many paradoxes of God and the story of Jesus that baffle linear logic, there is the tension in the apparent contradiction of living your life according to your own plan (as in the bumper sticker, "God is MY co-pilot") and feeling in charge on most occasions, and a larger reality that mere mortals are not very much in charge of their lives (the other side of that bumper sticker could be stated, "God is MY pilot"). On the one hand it may feel trying hard to get a little ahead of peers or the previous generation is worthy and what grown-ups strive to do; but on the other hand, in the great cosmic sweep of changes, one's actions and intentions seem very small indeed. One may strive or one may relax into a rut, a life defined can be defined by achieving versus one consisting of being. Either way, though, God loves you; and you are in a position to love your neighbor (and to receive the love of one's neighbor). God's grace provides your entry into the Kingdom; it can't be bought or earned or argued.

Perhaps there is an easy way to illustrate this tension between being in charge of one's destiny and the opposite, just drifting along and calling the course of events God's will. Seasoned travelers (and sojourners on the road of life, as well) know to make plans and maybe even contingency plans, but then when opportunities arise or situations of value present themselves, then those same carefully crafted plans can be changed. Just so for a life well-lived: go ahead and dream dreams, make plans, and enjoy the satisfaction of achieving a project. But at the same time be alert for chances to change the plan, too. Amid the cresting waves of life, keep your surfboard close to hand and be ready to ride a wave that happens your way! That may be the sweetest treat - fulfilling one's plans, but also seizing chances that are emergent and unseen at a distance.

Prayer – active ingredients of praising God and expressing gratitude

Jesus models how to pray and gives us the Lord's Prayer, as well. There are several varieties of prayer. Perhaps the "petitionary prayer" (making a request) is the most common, though. No matter the sort of prayer, when one engages daily or more often with God in one's heart, there should be an element of praise and thanks. Thinking about why this should be so, apart from Jesus setting this model, maybe it has to do with the orientation, posture or attitude that comes from expressing praise (one of reaching upward in worshipful stance, literally 'worth ship' or highly valued) and from pouring out gratitude (an embrace without defensiveness or justification, but rather breathing is a sense of unconditional receptivity to what is being given).

In other words, by approaching the time of prayer in a spirit of laud and eager expectation (praise) and holding one's heart in a position of openness, ready to receive or having already gladly received God's blessing, then one is truly cultivating a prayerful habit of growth, humility, and service to God and to one's neighbors, whether the person is "the least of these" or the opposite, abundant in blessedness, both visible and unseen.