James 4:13-17

the sun is shining brightly outside :)
and as i promised a certain someone, i will tell you the story of 1412.

i am a chronic planner, so naturally, when i decided to move into a new crib, i have all the plans made way early ahead of time. i set certain dates and deadlines for scouting, inspecting, and deciding on where to move. i fabricated a list of basic appliances and furniture i need to get as soon as i move into the new place. i temporarily transformed myself into an accountant-wannabe and attempted to do my own budgeting. i told my housemates regarding the plan 6 months in advance. my parents had entrusted the matter entirely into my hand coz they considered me responsible enough. and with such inflated head, i thought everything would be just fine.

months passed quickly, amongst the hectic final year student activities, i executed my plan slowly. me and sis started to become addicted to realestate.com.au, and comes november, we went for inspection every 3 days. somehow... it didnt go according to plan. the deadline i set for myself is creeping near, time was almost up, still, we couldn't find the "perfect" place, and we started to get anxious, and started to have all these "how if?"s in our heads.

maybe we're too perfectionist, fussy and pedantic about the new apartment, i don't know, but we seemed not able to be fully satisfied with any of the place we saw. i mean, it's not just merely finding a shelter from melbourne's unpredictable and lately hideous weather nor just a place to sleep at night, but we want to have a home.

and one week before the arrival of the big bosses (i.e my mum and dad), God stretched out His helping hands through this single soul called andrew. andrew is our one-and-a-half block away neighbour and our old old friend. since he is sis' good friend, back from middle school days, he was helping out as well. in that decisive week, he went down from his neo pad, to the real estate agency. as he asked for the current listings, a malaysian girl (let's call her v) overheard him and asked:

v: "hey are you looking for an apartment?"
a: "oh, i'm helping my friend to find one"
v: "oh, coz i might be able to help you if you or your friend is interested..."

then she started to explain the situation. she wanted to move out from her current place 2 months earlier than her current contract, so she would have to break the contract. and if she could find someone to replace her, then she wouldn't have to pay the penalty. as andrew described, she was pretty desperate and we were too at that moment. so he immediately called us and we inspected the place straightaway that night.

we fell in love with 1412.

we lodged in an application. however, we still feel unsetttled, waiting for the application to be accepted. so we spent the past few days, the past week actually feeling like we're in constant constipation, waiting in fullest anticipation for a ring from the agent. we rang several times yet the answer was always the same, "still waiting for the owner's reply".

yesterday, we couldn't stand it anymore, so we went to the city, lodged in another back up (although, we both know that our hearts were set on 1412). then we went for lunch, and then wandered aimlessly in the city, trying to find consolations from myer's glittery baubles and christmas wreaths.

then...

my phone rang...

we're getting 1412!

our hearts lightened in a flash and we continued our window shopping happily, wearing a sheepish grin on our faces. finally, one thing is settled.

looking back, i realized that God is teaching me not to depend on myself all the time, thinking that i can do things without Him. bullshit. we did pray for this new place we need, but somehow we still rely on ourselves browsing, calling up agents, and inspecting. who would have thought that we would get one by a chance meeting?

we have no control of what happens tomorrow, He does! so why can't we just trust Him with our life? i'll learn to involve God in every decision, every plan, every scheming that i make.

last sunday service, i got these Words smacked right onto my face.
last night discipleship, it was etched forever in my heart.
it makes totally perfect sense now.

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.”

16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.