We must plan, after all. We must have a sense of who we are and what we want to give to the world. We have to be open, totally open, to God's spirit working within our own plans and even taking us out of them.' ~Amy Weborn

The only news in Ireland yesterday was the budget and its implications for everyone. It's hard to plan in the midst of an economic downturn and when we are surrounded by so many uncertainties. The easy option is to retreat, find a safe place and wait for a better day. The invitation to be upbeat, positive and enthusiastic can often be a step too much for us. The invitation to be open to God working within our own plans or even taking us out of them can also be hard to take in. But this invitation is not new and has constantly been shared in different ways through all scripture stories. These stories recall lots of life experiences including the ones that are harsh, barren, difficult and almost devoid of hope or any progress. In the midst of each story is the invitation to remain strong and steady, to be hopeful and upbeat and to know that God is with us every step of the way. This message is a constant link throughout all of scripture. Again this may be a step too far for some of us but at least the invitation to be open to something good, better and positive in our lives is a good outlook to have. We gently invite God to help us with all our plans as we journey towards Christmas and to also help us take steps back out of them when needed.