Preparation = the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration.  

Preparations = something done to get ready for an event or undertaking.

When you think of “being prepared”, you most likely are thinking and acting intentionally; you are doing something now to ready yourself for something else in the future – something anticipated and planned.  I believe – no, I KNOW – there is another kind of preparation, the kind that transcends our own intentions.

Perhaps your current circumstances, actions and thoughts are also preparing you for the unanticipated.

Then
In 1988, I took a promotion, quite frankly, to escape from a rather evil new boss.  I actually turned down the promotion three times before accepting the fourth offer.  The job required me to make an undesired relocation to an undesired line of work – a direct service position helping people with disabilities become employed.

The executive who kept offering me the promotion knew my situation; he also knew my talents, perhaps better than I did.  I turned down the offer three times because:

1. I did not want the job.
2. I did not want to live in the community where I would need to relocate.
3. I wanted to find my own job to pursue my writing and media relations career, not do job placement for others!

I didn’t know those unfortunate circumstances would lead me to a whole new career, to discover my purpose. I didn’t know this move, for which I was completely unprepared, would lead me into Right Livelihood.

For nine years, I wondered “Why am I here? Are you preparing me for something?”  I asked God the same questions in my prayers and spoke about it with others.  I got specific, too: “God, are you preparing me to be the parent of a child with disabilities?”