In my last blog, I talked about the excitement of my summer trip and preparing for it. But who knows that even when one prepares, it may not go off as planned.
That’s exactly what happened to me. I traveled as far as Missouri to see my son and then I found out about the horrific flooding in Yellowstone National Park. They ended up closing the park for over a week, and there went my plans to visit and stay in the park.
Because of this unfortunate circumstance, I wasn’t sure what to do. My plans for the Tetons and Craters of the Moon all hinged on Yellowstone, and with that gone, it didn’t make much sense to head to that area. Especially with evacuees from the park all streaming into the Tetons. So I made plans to return home. On the morning of my departure, and with a hotel reservation in Kansas I could not cancel, I realized there was still time to make something out of this trip. So getting out the trusty atlas again, I looked West and ended up visiting a good friend in Colorado, hiking a beautiful trail to an alpine lake near Aspen,
and then heading into Utah to see Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and the intriguing beauty of Canyon de Chelly and the Petrified Forest in Arizona.
I wandered about the parks and took in all I could while reveling in what I saw. These beautiful areas told a story of God‘s creative touch long ago that still shows today. I understand now when Jesus said even the rocks will cry out in praise (Luke 19:40 ). Gazing upon an arch just sitting there in the middle of nowhere or seeing petrified wood turned to quartz from long ago, one cannot help but be astounded.
The unexpected and unplanned and even a disaster can turn into something good if one just pauses, puts aside the frustration, and waits. One thing God was telling me to do was wait, though at the time it didn’t make much sense. Yellowstone would not open in time. The plans appeared fouled for good. But I refused to scuttle everything, albeit at the last moment, and instead waited on Him, moved out in faith. and was treated to a trip into His glory.