Not too long ago I had a couple of visitors come to see me in VA. I love to surprise people, so naturally I had set up several surprises. As well as surprising people, I tend to be an overly scheduled and organized trip planner. I had everything set, a backstage walk through of the acquarium, a birthday stay in a 4-star hotel in the middle of Washington D.C, horseback riding. Of course, in planning, I had to work around the availability of all the surprises. Luckily, I had everything worked out and was SUPER thrilled to get to share these fun things with my guests!
Until.....
(INSERT DRAMATIC MUSIC HERE)
Plans changed. My visitor's changed the day they wanted to go to DC from the scheduled day to an alternate day. I understand the intent of their change. There was a marathon in DC the day they wanted to go, and one of my guest's dad was running in the marathon. They had hopes, regardless of anything I said, that their dad would have time to say hello.
They were completely adamant about going to DC on this alternate day. And for purposes of my point, they were choosing their own way.
So knowing, this week was all about them, I obliged to the day they wanted knowing all plans would have to be changed.
By going on the day they chose, we basically were not able to experience any of the surprises I had planned due to the different venue's schedules. (Yes, to no avail I did try to reschedule and make things work) Nor were they able to meet up with the dad like they had imagined due to his tight schedule.
It didn't dawn on me until a few weeks later. I was replaying the events of the whole week. Bummed that I didn't get to surprise them. Then it clicked. It made me think of God's relationship with us. God has amazing things beyond our imagination planned for us if we choose His way. It's when we venture off onto our own path, that we head down a path of destruction, out of God's will, and out of the many blessings and surprises He has for us.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11
I don't say all this to say that their trip was a wash. We still found things to do and had a good time during their visit. However, little will they ever know, about the more grand plans that were set before them.
