First Baptist Church of Herndon

A Perfect Pattern

Linda Soller | Jan 03, 2022

As a person addicted to routines, lists, guidelines and patterns I have always searched for that perfect pattern for my life. But alas, I’ve learned after many years of trial and error that there is no perfect pattern for a life. We can strive to find the harmony between what we do, when we do it, and living well. The search alone will keep you busy. It kept me busy for years. As I grew older I realized that real life often gets in the way of our carefully planned pattern. And if that is not bad enough we sometimes change our minds. What were we thinking! 

As I draw ever closer to retirement, a joyous occasion in my mind, I’m facing a huge change in the patterns of my life. Not just which day I go to the grocery store, but crazy as it sounds, if I have to have an actual grocery day! Mind blown! It’s both exciting to anticipate the changes and scary. Our patterns become our connections. These patterns we can control when so much in life is out of our control. Well, practically all of life is out of our control. Anyway, it’s scary.  It’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the patterns that have worked for us in the past, and those that we tossed due to malfunctions. We discuss it with our friends and family, but the patterns that work for them may not work for us. We can experiment with new patterns. This is really scary for pattern people. We need a plan, and we need it now. 

A perfect pattern may only be something to strive for as we consider such things as how we want to be remembered once we are gone and if we need to make a last minute grocery store run on the day before a holiday. Regardless of how our mind is working this first week of a brand new year, and despite how miserable some things have been lately, this is the perfect time to consider your perfect pattern. If it’s the one you are now in, may I suggest you develop a plan B, or pattern B.  Life will happen and changes will take place and your perfect patterns may need to change too. 

Be the love in the world! Happy New Year! :o)