When missionaries stay at the mission home, I love to share something of my Scottish heritage with them.

I introduced our national bard (poet) Robert Burns, to our last visitors and read his classic poem “To a Mouse.”

In it, he shares his remorse at destroying the nest of a tiny field mouse with his plough, whilst considering the futility of planning for a hopeful future in the face of unforeseen consequences.

And so, off I went…“Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie…”

Their bewildered and perplexed faces were a delight to behold, as they struggled to understand a single word!

Today, I want to focus on one line of the poem; “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men/Gang aft a-gley.”

In other words, no matter how well we prepare, our plans can often go astray, unfolding in unexpected ways.

Remember the familiar phrase “Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans”.

Just like the tiny mouse, all of us are subject to unforeseen events and must adapt accordingly.

By doing the best we can, we have to prepare even for what we are unprepared for.

Goal setting and planning are an essential part of everyday missionary life.

“He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the busiest life.” – Victor Hugo

When we plan our days to fill a purpose, rather than just fill them to keep busy, we become more productive, especially when we adapt to the unexpected.

Plan to expect the unexpected.

Life’s lessons often come unexpectedly!

M. Russell Ballard said “A goal is a destination or an end, while a plan is the route by which you get there…. Goal setting is essentially beginning with the end in mind. And planning is devising a way to get to that end.”

Remember the old cliché, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.

Many essays have been written on “To a Mouse”.

However, like the “wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie…,” I suggest it’s always best to prepare for the here and now.

As you plan today, what do you want to make happen?