Wednesday , November 7, 2012
Today’s readings
Phil 2:12-18; Ps 27:1-14; Luke 14:25-33
Dig a well before you are
thirsty. Think before acting. Decide in detail what it is to be done and how to
do it. Otherwise be prepared to face unkind laughter and mockery. Why? The
reason is as simple as ABC, you are planning to fail by failing to plan. You
are preparing to fail by failing to prepare. Jesus knowing that planning is
indispensable, had this to say: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.
Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money
to complete it? For if you lay the
foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and
wasn’t able to finish.’ (Luke 14: 28-30). When you plan to build the tower, the
work is half done. When you plan how to win the battle, that is half the
victory. When you plan where you are going to enjoy the whole of your eternity,
the work is half done. Do not only plan, but also believe. Do not only plan,
but also commit your plans to God. Do not only plan, but also perform the best.
Do not only plan, but also execute a plan. Do not only plan, but also evaluate
a plan. Make short term plans and long term plans as the Chinese proverb tells
it all, “When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade,
plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.”
Planning is not belling the cat.
So goes the story which gave rise to the idiom to bell the cat: A group of mice debated plans to nullify the
threat of a raiding cat. One of them proposed placing a bell around its neck,
so that they would be warned of its approach. The plan was applauded by the
others, until one mouse asked who would volunteer to place the bell on the cat.
All of them made excuses. The story is used to teach the wisdom of evaluating a
plan. If plans are impossible to be executed, it is belling the cat.
