Expect the Unexpected (2)

Recently, I coordinated blood drive number 11 at church.  This one was on the heels of two blood drives a year for the previous five years.  In partnership with the American Red Cross, they would send staff for both an inside collection site and their mobile unit.  The drive day arrived -- beautiful, bright, sunshiny; started with more pre-sign-ups than ever before; tee shirts had been delivered early; Red Cross supply truck and workers arrived on schedule; volunteer workers arrived; everything was falling into place.  I expected to exceed our goal.

 One thing was missing, the mobile unit which was the second collection site.  This was unexpected to say the least ... a first time occurrence ... mechanical difficulties ... out of the ordinary ... unplanned for ... prayers for the unit to arrive went unanswered.  Why?  What to do?  Why this unexpected turn of events?  How to make the best of the situation?  Had I been expecting the plans to succeed my way or God's way? Would I trust God's ways when they were different from mine? Was my definition of success limiting or disregarding the Master Planner?  Did I really expect the unexpected?

 What happened?  Romans 8:28 happened.  A Red Cross staff team worked steadily and diligently to accommodate as many donors as possible.  While some prospects left, many waited patiently to become donors as committed.  Though we missed goal, the collected units were no less than had been previously collected on a couple occasions using two collection sites. 

Expect the unexpected.  Be ever mindful that God's promises never change.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (See Romans 8:28.)