As a child and young adult, I spent every summer visiting my grandmother on Cape Cod. Preparing for those summer trips was a lengthy process. That was because I made sure everything needed during the summer could be packed in one suitcase and a carry on bag to be flown from my home in California to Massachusetts. My pre-summer vacation routine involved making categorical checklists which to this day my parents still tease me about!
Old habits die hard I suppose, as a similar process was needed when we recently joined some friends on a camping trip. Due to it being early in the camping season with the likelihood of cold nights - - and because yours truly is not known for her camping prowess, we decided it best to rent a camper which had heat, a bathroom, relatively comfy beds, and a full kitchen. Preparations for this camping trip took much planning - - more than I realized! Bathroom supplies, clothes, bedding, kitchen utensils, and food for my husband, his three girls, and myself all had to be included.
We arrived at the campground, unloaded, and were pretty much set the first night. Awesome! What a planner I am! (Just stay tuned...) The next morning we had three hungry girls, a starving mama, and a papa ready and willing to prepare breakfast. It was eggs, bacon, and cereal time. Going in the fridge to grab the eggs, I also pulled out the bacon, orange juice, and milk. Up in the cabinet were the plates, utensils, cups, and cereal. All right! Let's cook those eggs! Oh dear. Guess who forgot the frying pan? That would be me. It is kind of crucial to have something to actually cook the eggs in! It is also a bit challenging to have a bowl of cereal when a certain someone (me again) forgot to pack the bowls. Ugh. But despite my forgetfulness, the girls made the best of it and used plastic cups to eat their cereal. Fortunately our friends also had a frying pan we could borrow to cook the eggs and bacon. Gaps in my flawed plan were filled and all was well.
No matter how much preparation we put into things, we are human. Our plans are bound to be thwarted by our own forgetfulness and humanity - - or by circumstances outside of our control. It is just the way of life that things usually don't go exactly how we think they will go. It can be very frustrating, especially if we put a ton of time and heart into our plans. However, those are the times when God often steps in, cleans up our messes, and provides just what we need. He reminded me of my planning imperfection that camping weekend - - as well as His ability to perfectly provide.
"In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9
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