Plans

The best laid plans... oh yeah.

Saturday there were many projects to start and finish, shopping to be done and spending time with family. For two years now I've wanted to take pictures of some poppies (not puppies, poppies), but because of a lack of an operational camera, timing (distance from my location) and some procrastination, that has not happened.

Well, I set out in my little green car Saturday morning around 9am and drove 30 minutes to the spot I wanted to take these shots. Problem was, the sky--it was completely gray. My conversation with God was all inside my head "Lord, you know I wanted to take these pictures..." I was on the verge of tears because my life has been so full of running that I don't often get a chance to pause and do something I want to do that's also relaxing, not demanding.

So the war continues "Remember the last set of pictures you took?" There was rain, unexpected and also unwanted.

"Yes, those were good pictures and yes it wouldn't have been the same without the rain."

Still warring, I wanted what I wanted(there was a shot in particular that isn't possible without a blue sky and a visible sun), but attempting to be positive, I pull off on the side of the road--the flowers were planted next to the highway. I get out of the car and the mist that had been at the beginning of my journey was now real rain.

If I had turned around and gone home that would have been an hour wasted. So as I cross the road, little old man who has just set up his flower stand says "It's raining" and I said "I know" continuing on my way.

For thirty minutes, there was mud and wet and much camera clicking. I don't know how much all of you know about poppies, but man are they diverse. Awesome in fact.

And no, it wouldn't have been the same with a bright sun or a blue sky.

Sometimes, allowing God to work through the rough spots, the ill-timed plans, the small griefs of life--He reveals to us more beauty, more unexpected blessings than we could ever imagine.

It's as if God said "let me show you something beautiful" and I said "but I don't want your something beautiful, I want MY something beautiful" what do we miss out on when we follow only what we desire, ignoring all else?