#4 - Mimsie in Israel

March 4, 2026

One of the strangest things about being here right now is living between two very different worlds.

One world feels normal — the kind of world where I can decide what to do with my time.

I cook. I exercise (which, by the way, is easy when you have a licensed Pilates instructor living in the apartment — my daughter Jennifer). I play with the boys and their neighborhood friends. I even sit down with my computer and get work done for Disciple Daily.

In that world, I feel productive. Useful. In control of my day.

But there is another world running alongside it.

A world where I have absolutely NO control.

Missiles launch. Alerts sound. Decisions are made far above anything I can see or influence. In that world, I’m simply a spectator watching history unfold.

It reminds me of when my kids played competitive sports years ago. As a parent sitting in the stands, there were so many things I couldn’t control. I couldn’t control if they got hurt in practice or during competition. I couldn’t control the schedule or who we played. I couldn’t control how strong the other team might be — or what decisions the coaches would make about who played or what strategy they used.

All I could do was sit and watch and cheer.

Living here right now feels a little like that.

I much prefer the world where I feel like I’m in control. But the truth is… that control is mostly an illusion.

The other world — the one I can’t control — just makes that reality more obvious.

Back home I’ve been studying the book of Proverbs with women from our church. Proverbs is full of wisdom about the kind of decisions we can make that generally lead to a better life. But Proverbs doesn’t offer promises or guarantees. They are principles — wise ways to live.

And Proverbs reminds us where wisdom really begins:

Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
 and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

In other words, wisdom doesn’t start with controlling circumstances.

It starts with the right orientation toward God.

So while I can’t control the bigger world around me, I can choose how I spend my time. I can encourage my family. I can open God’s Word and ask for wisdom.

And maybe that’s the real lesson of these two worlds.

The one I think I control…
and the one that reminds me I don’t.

— Mimsie in Israel

P.S. As I was finishing this blog… the siren went off and we headed to the mamad. See what I mean? Apparently my writing schedule is not in my control either. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that “the mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Seems like He’s directing mine in very real time these days.