By Deborah Bachman

“I wish I would have…” “I should have…” Stop. Don’t rob yourself of today. As we get older it’s tempting to look back at missed opportunities, relationships we would have handled differently, or situations we needed to completely avoid. How many times have you heard someone say, “If I knew then, what I know now?” That’s experience. Wisdom. We all have a collection of it as we’ve navigated through this journey called life.

Regrets can paralyze your thinking and keep you from moving forward. If you’re constantly focusing on the past, you’ll miss the good things right in front of you. I listened to a dialogue on the radio about people being resistant to change. The narrator said often individuals try to hold on tightly to their present state. They’re fearful of losing everything that’s comfortable if they move toward doing something different. He encouraged listeners to take a step of faith because God may have something even better than they’re walking in now or something they might never have imagined possible.

It’s not too late to finish that degree. It’s not too late to look for a new job. It’s not too late to take that trip. It’s not too late to move to another place. It’s not too late to mend a relationship. Whatever has been in your heart, why not start making plans for change?

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There might not be any view quite like the stunning colors of a Texas sky stretching across green fields. (Photo by Jon Nunneley)

By Deborah Bachman

“Please pull over!” I hopped out of my friend’s SUV and snapped a few pictures of the mass of bluebonnets in the median. “Will you hurry?” She was nervous we’d hold up traffic. It was the spring after I’d moved back to Texas from Missouri. This was my first sighting of our state flower. I gazed at the beautiful floral carpet. At that moment I decided I must plant some when I had a place of my own.

Last spring my husband and I bought several packs of bluebonnet seeds. We carefully planted the seeds in flower beds, around two apple trees and my magnolia tree. We spread seeds along the edges of the barn and driveway.  I watered them, talked to them, and had high hopes of reaping a sea of blue.  We never saw even a little green sprout. Not one. It was quite disappointing to not have the opportunity to pay homage to this symbol of Texas beauty.

The thought occurred to me I might need to do some research. I visited with our county extension agent and horticulture expert. Bluebonnets are to be sown mid-September to mid-October. You need a good seed source, and the seeds need to be soaked in water the night before planting. When you broadcast them in the dirt the weight from the swelled seeds holds them down. This prevents the seeds from blowing away in the frequent Texas wind. I learned there is a specific process where before I just dove in and tried to grow the flowers the way I thought it should be done.

This experience led me to begin thinking about my spiritual life. How often in the morning I may open my Bible for a moment, read a few scriptures, pray some quick prayers and I’m off and running. There’s work expectations, appointments to keep, errands to run, laundry, dinner to cook, evening activities. The list multiplies and differs daily.  I frequently feel like I’m running against a process that’s not even in place. I try to jump in and accomplish things as they come.

Spring is a great season for new beginnings, new growth, making plans, and setting goals. Achieving the best outcome possible is a process.  And like bluebonnets, to have success our plans need to have a good seed source. I think it’s important to slow down, do some research, and consult an expert. For me, that means spending more time in God’s word and prayer, and making my requests known to Him as I set goals and make plans.

I’m looking forward to enjoying our bluebonnets this year, and have decided to become more intentional when seeking the most successful directions in life.  I can do my own thing, or find the best process.  The best process that leads to growth. Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs His steps.”