It's NQC and I'm Sitting At Home

For those that may read that don't know what NQC is, it is the National Quartet Convention and it was held this week in Pigeon Forge, TN.  I love Pigeon Forge, I love the NQC, yet I'm not there.  It's not the first time I've missed but something is different this year. 


In the past missing it made me really unhappy.  Missing it this year hasn't had the same result.  Now that's not because I have any less desire to be there.  It is because of a new contentment and acceptance that I can't do everything and I don't have to be in total control of my life.  Oh, did I just say that out loud?


I'm a control freak, from being on time to if you make plans in advance don't go switching things up on me.  If I'm going on vacation, I know when we are leaving, how long it should take and when we should get there.  There's nothing wrong with planning, it can actually be a good thing.  But the panic that ensues if your plan get changed, that's not a good thing.  Seriously, I've had panic attacks over being late somewhere.  I've refused to go if I was going to be later, it made me physically ill.


Now I think you should plan to be on time but unless you are a heart surgeon and someone is waiting on life support for surgery, being late isn't the end of the world.  My heart started pounding when I wrote that, for real.  That's how bad I am. 


So NQC is a great time to hear music, see friends, catch up with many people and it is always a highlight of my year.  I couldn't make it.  But you know the things I remember about this week?  Having some in depth conversations with my daughter, being at a great church service on Wed. night, hearing a missionary from Brazil give his testimony and tell about his work.  Realizing as he gave his history, I was part of a church that was supporting the missionary that led this man to the Lord in the 1970s.  Seeing how from that one missionary sent from here in our state, this man and his brothers were all serving the Lord, reaching people in countries where the US can no longer send missionaries. 


I missed time with my friends but at the time I would have been there, I was hearing how mission dollars I gave 30 plus years ago had reached hundreds, maybe thousands over the years.  Would I trade was I was Wed. night to be at NQC?  No, I don't think so.  I'm content.  I'm finding more and more often these days as things change from what I thought was a good plan that God is replacing the anxiety with contentment. 


It has happened slowly.  And there are times, the frustration or panic may resurface but God is reminding me of this one thing.  He is in control, I'm just along for the ride.  My plans are feeble and often centered about what I want.  His plans have purpose and are centered about what is best for me.


So to my friends I missed at NQC, I hope I see you soon.  But this week has been good!