Spur of the Moment

Plans.
Ah, that word on my tongue is sweet like honey, smooth as rich chocolate.
Plans.
That word is comforting and warm, like a crackling fire on a frigid December night.
Plans.
That word is familiar, like the sweet smell of grass in the summer or the voice of an old friend.

My life has always consisted of plans. Planning two weeks in advance to go out to eat with a friend. Planning to go to college, ever since I was a child. Planning trips, never just randomly taking them. Planning lessons to teach far in advance. Plans are my comfort - 'knowing' is my security blanket. To step outside of my comfort zone would be to not know what was happening the next day, events not going as scheduled, plans falling through and new ones being made within the same night . . . well you get the picture. Frustration, stress, worry, anxiety, unhappiness, irritation - all these words definitely describe the state I'm in when plans don't happen accordingly. Spontaneity is a word that is a minimally appearing foreigner in the land of my vocabulary. I like when things feel safe and I know what's happening. Organization pleases me greatly (I am a girl of simple pleasures. lol). When things happen on time, my breathing is always a little easier. Type A you might ask? My head nods vigorously in agreement.

As I went through college, I slowly began to learn that if an event didn't start on time all the time, I shouldn't have a heart attack; if plans had a slight change, don't stress so much you cause an anurism; if I didn't get the grade I planned on, worrying wasn't going to change the circumstances; and the like. I think those small lessons were just preparing me for teaching at Daebang School and living in South Korea in general. I've learned that if you want to have experiences, meet more people, lead a less stressful life, and better yourself, you need to learn to be a little (well maybe more than a little) spontaneous.

"Want to go for some ice cream?" (even though it's 10:30 p.m.) - "Sure."
"Want to go to the park to play badminton this morning?" - "Sure."
"Want to go to this park with us in 10 minutes? You don't have any plans, right?" - "Sure."
"Want to try this unpronounceable dish? What about this one that looks inedible? Or this one that looks like something already digested it? Oh, and definitely try this one - it's amazing." - "Ummm, sure . . ." (I've learned that I don't ask what's in the dish before I try it because if I know, I probably won't try it - eating out always promises to be an adventure, and we eat out here a lot because of such reasonable pricing.)
"Will you take a trip with me to the Philippines over Chuseok for my birthday?" - "Sure." (Even though it's only a week and a half or so until Chuseok. lol)
"Will you do a Bible study with me starting in a few days?" - "Sure." (Even though I've never given a Bible study before to someone who is fluent in English, let alone someone who barely understands it.)
"There's tea time this week." (Aren't you glad you knew more than a day in advance?)
"There's power day tomorrow." (Said my junior students to me, not any other teacher or coordinator - at least my students are on top of some things. lol)
"There's a conversation test tomorrow." (Yeah, the one we haven't shown you how to give and grade.)
                     "Sure . . . sure . . . and sure."

Learning to do something at any given moment has been a process and a half for me. Slightly like pulling teeth without the Novocaine - HOLY GUACAMOLE it hurts like none other at first but when it's finished you're much better off than when you first arrived in that dentist office. I guess that may be a slightly extreme comparison, but I thought it fitting enough and entertaining . . . so I used it. lol Anyway, I guess Korea is teaching me some lessons I didn't expect to learn and I think it's a good thing. Plans can be good, but doing things spur of the moment can sometimes be even better.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11
When my all my plans seem to not work out, I need only remember that there is Someone who always has better plans, lifelong plans, for me and that I need not worry because those plans will never fall through. I can be secure and sure when He makes the plans, for His ways are better than mine.

P.S. For anyone who wanted my address and who is brave enough to write so many letters and numbers in such a complicated manner on the front of an envelope, here it be:

Ashley Schebo
101 Hwasong Villa
349-10 Daebong Dong
Jongjak Gu
Seoul tikbyolshi
Seoul, South Korea 156-808