It was the third night of Vacation Bible School. Things for the week were going perfectly as planned. Attendance was good. Offerings were great. The high-octane spirit of VBS was in the air. But something was about to happen that no one could have expected…
It was stormy, windy weather that night in the Land of Oz, Liberal, KS. As the final rows of kids were piling in and we were about to start the evening program filled with songs, games, magic, and more… all of the lights in the building suddenly went out!
Unknown to us, there had been a power failure on our side of town, and a third of the entire city had lost all power. No lights, no sound, no media. That means that we were left with a lot of kids, a lot of time, and a new last-minute program to come up with.
So what do you do with 300+ kids… all in one room… for an hour and a half… in the dark? Well, after assuring all the kids that everything was going to be okay, we started the program. Not the program we had planned for that night, but an impromptu program of repeat-after-me songs, a few jokes, and a presentation of the gospel.
Sometimes in ministry and in life, the plan doesn’t go as planned.
- The main ministry event you’ve meticulously planned for ends up being a flop…
- That important appointment you can’t afford to miss gets interrupted by an unexpected emergency…
- You just seem to be getting ahead financially when someone gets hurt and you acquire additional medical expenses…
- All these great plans for your future are prepared, but then something tragic happens, and it all seems to change overnight.
Whether it’s a one-time event or a life-altering moment, life has a way of changing our plans, doesn’t it? Mark it down, it will happen. And when it does, what are you going to do? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Keep Your Cool
That night when all the power went out, the kids followed my lead. If I had been frantic and scared, they would have followed suit. But because I stayed calm and reassured them that all was okay, we were able to continue with a half-decent program, even in the dark.
As a parent, when something unplanned happens in your family, remember that your children will follow your lead. If you stay calm, they’re much more likely to do the same. But if you freak out, you might as well expect mayhem.
If you’re a ministry leader, remember that everything rises and falls on leadership. Lead well. Set the tone. Don’t let one disrespectful kid in your class cause you to lose your cool and throw away the effectiveness of your entire class.
2. Go with the Flow
Sometimes all you can do is roll with the punches and make the most of the moment regardless of the unexpected.
We could have thrown our hands up and sent all the kids home that night at VBS, but why waste an entire night of valuable influence just because we weren’t able to do things our own way. Flexibility in life will solve a lot of problems in a ministry, on the job, as well as in a family.
Learn to be in control by going with the flow rather than being a victim to your circumstances.
3. Don’t Play the Blame Game
The easiest thing to do when something goes wrong is to look around for the closest person we can blame, because it’s never our fault, right? I could have easily gotten up and ranted and raved to the kids about how lousy the power company is, and what would that have accomplished?
What do we honestly accomplish in ministry or in our family when we shift blame for the way things are? The answer is – absolutely nothing. In fact, we end up being the one who loses in the long run. We lose the attention and respect of those we are trying to lead.
In the end, if you choose to play the blame game, nobody wins and everybody loses.
4. Live and Learn
I certainly hope that the lights and power don’t go out again at VBS, but if they do, I guarantee you I’ll be a bit more prepared than I was the last time.
Sometimes the best thing you can do once “the unplanned” has passed is to step back and evaluate:
- Is there anything I could have done to prevent this from happening?
- What could I have done differently in the moment?
- What can I learn from this experience to better prepare me for the future?
Whether the unplanned is your own fault or something completely out of your control, make sure not to waste it without allowing it to make you better.
I know that as for me, I can honestly say I’m a better parent and stronger ministry leader today because of the times when the plan didn’t go as planned. How about you? I’m sure you have a story you could tell of your own. Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear it!
