The Griswolds Versus The Keanes

On a cold, blustery, Colorado day in January, we sat around our dining room table and planned out our August Vacation to a beach destination in Florida.  It was like a mini-vacation in itself–looking at the resort pictures online.

As the year rolled along and the departure time drew closer, we kept the resort pictures tucked in the back of our minds and persevered through life’s challenges and busyness.  Somehow, looking forward to something makes it easier to navigate through the difficult times.

Finally, two weeks to departure.  And then a week.  And then.  What?  A hurricane?  Seriously?  How does this happen?  Besides the obvious fact that it’s hurricane season in the Gulf. 

We watched the news.  We Googled.  We read articles.  We perused the National Hurricane Center’s website.  Anything that would help us make our decision.  And then on Thursday morning.  One day until departure.  The decision was made.  We shouldn’t go.

We called our timeshare agent.  Bless your heart, Brenda—wherever you are.  We looked at other vacation destinations.  Nothing, except for Branson Missouri, and somehow that just wasn’t a close second to the beach.

As the morning went on we decided to try destinations outside the US.  Cancun, Mexico.  Ahh.  That’s sounds nice.  There was availability.  We could even change our flights without penalty.  Done. Booked.  Then we got the passports out.  Uh oh!  The girls’ passports expired in April.

No problem.  I’m sure there’s something we can do.  And just like that I was at my computer and found a place that expedites passport renewals.  I called.  I became excited.  Then my countenance fell.  Again.  It would cost at least $600 with no guarantee of arrival by the time we had to leave.

We sat silently.  The girls cried.  We looked from one to the other.  What now?  And like a knight in shining armor, coming to the rescue of his girls, Matt said he would call Brenda once again.  The odds were stacked against us.  In the world of timeshares once you make one destination change you can’t make another.  We were pretty certain we had lost a vacation week.

My heart pounded, and if it had been a hot day, I’m sure sweat would have beaded on my brow.  I couldn’t even walk into the room where Matt was talking on the phone to Brenda.  Somehow I thought we were the ones who had messed up. Royally.  We were the ones who made the mistake of canceling our Florida trip.

But then it hit me.  Scriptures.  God’s Word.  Maybe this wasn’t a colossal mistake in the world of travel and parenting.  Maybe this was God.  After all we are under the umbrella of his protection.  Maybe this was his protection.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
 will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1 NIV

Loud sobs were coming from the girls’ bedrooms.  I marched upstairs with this new found hope from scripture.  I stood in the middle of the hall at the doorways to each of their bedrooms.

Girls, I want you to understand something.  Sometimes when we get ahead of God.  When we try to push our own agendas that aren’t meant to be pushed, God blocks it.  I don’t know if he’s blocking our plans for this trip.  I just don’t know.  But it shouldn’t be this difficult to go on vacation.  And I think we need to quit trying so hard to make this happen.  Let’s rest in him and see what he does.  Do you understand?

Cease striving and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 NAS

They understood.

When I went back to check on Matt, I could tell he was no longer upset.  He gave me the thumbs up sign.  He looked weary after three hours on the phone, but things seemed to be looking up.

Well, it’s been two days since that difficult morning.  I am writing from our condo at the Desert Oasis Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It’s beautiful.  It’s not Bonita Springs, Florida.  And it’s a fry car from the beach.  But it’s sunny, warm and comfortable.  We are receiving refreshment.  And for one whole week we are leaving the daily cares of home, at home.  It’s lovely.

I can’t explain it really, but I feel at peace in my heart.   This vacation is just what it was meant to be all along.

Oh, and The Keanes won!

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
So are My ways higher than your ways 
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NAS