My second favorite story in the Bible is when Philip teleported. You can read it in Acts 8:26-40, but basically, the Spirit told Philip to go up to an Ethiopian eunuch who happened to be reading the book of Isaiah. Philip explained that the passage spoke of Jesus, shared the Gospel, baptized the eunuch, and “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea” (v 39-40).
I love this story because if I could have any superpower, it would be teleportation, but I’ve been thinking about this story because I want to go on a vacation before school starts. Unfortunately, school starts on Monday. One of my bucket list items that I’m tempted to check off is to go to the airport and book a random flight to anywhere. Just walk up to the ticket counter and ask for their cheapest flight and go wherever it goes as long as it’s within the U.S. (since I misplaced my passport…I know, I need to keep track of these things). If I could teleport, I can travel the world on a whim, and I would because I’m a pantser.
Pantser: (pant-ser) someone who flies by the seat of her pants
A planner I am not. As much as I love cute planners and try to use goal trackers, I end up abandoning them. It pains me to set a schedule to sit down and plan a schedule and refer to to-do lists and checklists. Ironically, I thrive on schedules and due dates. I accomplish more when they’re part of my life.
I wonder if Philip was a planner or a pantser. The Holy Spirit didn’t really care. He told Philip where to go and what to do. He teleported Philip to a different city, giving him no time to pack or settle his affairs. But how Philip responded reminds me of Paul’s advice in 2 Timothy 4:2.
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2, NIV
When hearing this verse, I used to think of a schoolchild on the edge of her seat, ready to go at a moment’s notice, Bible on hand, homework ready, shoes tied, eyes bright. But I picture Philip going about his day when an angel told him to go to a desert road. He only had the clothes on his back and maybe a bag with enough food and water for a day. His assignments were to go there and to do this.
Philip was more like a secret agent than a schoolchild, and maybe that’s how we should prepare. Like a secret agent who is prepared with her training and continues to train to keep up her skills, but ready to go at the drop of the hat wherever she’s sent. Her missions are bits and pieces of a larger picture, but she gets the job done, whatever it is that’s thrown her way. She’s both a planner and a pantser.
We need a degree of planning and a degree of pantsing (flying by the seat of our pants). A degree of intentionality and a degree of flexibility. We train and prepare, and we also go with the flow.
Whether going back to school or taking on more work or facing a change or challenge in life, we need to both plan and fly be the seat of our pants. To me, that’s really just living in grace. We do our best in life, but we’re going to fall short. We’re going to mess up. We’re going to need forgiveness and the help of God. We’re going to need grace to get back up and keep trying.
My prayer for you, as a new school year begins, is that you remember to live in grace. Plan and fly at the same time.
