For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part: but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Sometimes we think we know God’s will for our lives. We make our plans, we head down a path we are sure God has intended for us. Then suddenly circumstances change making those plans impossible or, at best, extremely unlikely. We sit back, scratch our heads and say, “What are you doing, God?” We don’t understand. We may even find ourselves saying, “How can a loving God allow this to happen?” Some may even question the existence of God.

It’s daybreak on a small 80 acre farm, twelve miles from Westby, in western Wisconsin. It’s market day, the price of hogs is up. The young father loads the hogs for market into the trailer attached to the back of the family car and goes to the house for a quick breakfast before leaving for town. He dips water into a basin from the reservoir on the cook stove to wash his hands. It’s 1949. There is no running water in the house; it would be several more years before that luxury entered the house.

The announcer on the radio says, “It’s going to be another hot July day.”

As he sits at the kitchen table, his wife finishes breakfast and joins him at the table. He turns off the radio. He thanks God for the food and prays for their day and for their children. As they eat their breakfast they talk about the plans for the day. She has her list of things she needs from town. As they are eating and speaking, their three year old daughter comes to the table. Her five month old baby brother is still sleeping.

He rises from the table kisses his wife and daughter, enters the living room to find his son is still sound asleep in his bassinet. He tells his wife he will be back by supper time and leaves for town.