On Providence

There are two subtle heresies which almost no one shakes free from in this life. These are:

that we have control and
things would be better if we had more control.

From these heresies spring abortion, birth control, and supposedly predictable suburban life. God has to shake us and throw us into "misfortune" to keep us just outside these heresies.

Rigidity is the offspring of these heresies. Rigidity takes an idea (made by us) and makes it primary over the reality (made by God). This rigidity is a form of pride, and all pride sets oneself in competition with God. We must always leave room for the reality made by God because anything made by God is infinitely better than anything made by us.

Correcting these heresies is tricky because their reverse, that we should resign ourselves to every situation, is also false. God does not desire for us to fall like leaves allowing our descent to be controlled by our surroundings. He wishes for us to have good ideals, plans, work, and desires, but we must also allow God to elevate (and many times correct) our ideals, plans, work, and desires. God rarely gives us complete blueprints at the beginning of a project, but like every child we must be guided every step of the way. God often uses constraining circumstances and unexpected results to inform our prayer and discernment of His better way. If we remain flexible and obedient, God will work with us and through us to elevate everything we do. This elevation is God’s gift and the practical fruit of His providence.