Planner Turned Wanderer — Sincerely, Kindred

WORDS // MARISS EANES

I used to be the biggest planner around. I used to enjoy structure and certainty. I used to like knowing specifics of: Where? What time? How many people will be there?

The worst part is that I would be let down if plans did not play out the way I pictured and I would feel even worse if they fell through.

Maybe you are like this too. Maybe every second of your day is planned out from the time you wake up to the time your head hits the pillow. Maybe to you the most dreaded words in the English language are, “I don’t know.”

There was a time when I could relate to this, when my world revolved around planning and preparation. Little did I know that this way of living was causing unnecessary stress and anxiety in my life.

It wasn’t until my college years that I experienced a complete shift in the way I lived.

God provided the perfect opportunity for me to loosen my grip of control and rely on Him rather than my own expectations.

Travel was the method God used to shape the person I am today, to readjust my heart for the better. He grabbed a hold of my heart through each of these experiences.

There is something so beautiful about landing on the opposite side of the world and not knowing a soul; the thought of waking up in a brand new city having no idea what the day holds. Others might be terrified of this thought, but for us wanderers it brings us an incredible amount of joy. When you are immersed in another culture you adapt quickly, learning the language and becoming more aware of your location. You suddenly stop planning and start living.

The best advice I’ve ever been given and can pass on to you is to take advantage of every opportunity, big or small. I’ve talked to so many people who had a fantastic once in a lifetime opportunity in front of them but were too afraid to pursue it because it wasn’t part of the “plan.”

By “wandering” we can learn one thing: to trust. To let ourselves give up control of plans and live in the moment that God has perfectly orchestrated at that point in time. God calls us to relinquish control, to trust Him with the plans He has for our lives rather than stubbornly gripping to our own agendas and detailed 5 year plans. He is the planner.

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
Proverbs 16:9 (NASB)

PHOTO // MEAGAN BOURNE