The Roses of Prose: Woody Allen

Thursday, March 24, 2016

MAKE A PLAN AND HEAR GOD LAUGH by Brenda Whiteside

My son was the first one to spout this at me: Make a plan and hear God laugh. I've repeated this to myself many times over the years. It's appropriate for my current situation.

I decided to Google the words and see where they originated. I should've known...Woody Allen is attributed except his words were "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." I love Woody Allen humor. As a person, well, I'll leave that alone, but his movies have always entertained me.

What I find even more humorous is all of the analysis his words have spawned. There are whole articles written on them and some are quite critical. They tear apart his original statement, dissecting all eleven words as if Woody had implied some deep psychological or philosophical wisdom. Maybe I don't see it that way because I've never applied them to life-threatening moments in my life. If a loved one is sick or teetering on the edge of disaster, his words do not come to mind. Personally, I don't think Woody meant them that way. I don't believe God is just sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for us to think we've got life nailed and then he roars because he's in control and stirs up trouble.

Months ago friends from Minnesota took us up on an invitation, and they're coming for a week to visit. I am so happy. We haven't seen them in three years. And the timing was perfect. I thought. Then...found out my latest novel is releasing that week, we need to get the farm ready to sell, my son and family are moving to Colorado that week, and my mom has a medical test. See? He's chuckling.

Brenda and her husband are gypsies at heart having lived in six states and two countries. Currently, they split their time between the prairie in Northern Arizona and the RV life. At home or in the RV, she spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.