The drive was over an hour on a bumpy, twisty road with switchbacks and curves that made my stomach turn. We had not yet visited this spot though it had been on our list since moving to the mountains. As we drove towards our destination and motion sickness set in, I was regretting ever making the trip.
Maybe we should have gone to a place we knew better, I questioned; one with an easier route, something familiar.
As we climbed higher elevation the sun disappeared into the clouds and rain began to hit the windshield. Ugh! We had packed for the drop in temperature but not rain. I started making a mental checklist of which coats I packed for the kids. “Did they have hoods? Is there an umbrella in the van? What about their shoes? They will be soaked!”
While my mind worked to figure everything out, my stomach told me the whole trip was a mistake. But two excited kids and a dog who was about to leap out of the window to get on the trails, told me we must continue on!
When we arrived, the clouds were so thick we couldn’t see anything. The rain had let up to a slight drizzle and thankfully everyone had something to cover their heads.
We were going on this hike no matter what!
As we trudged up the muddy hillside to the summit, my pack leading the way was getting lost in the clouds. My husband and I knew this place was gorgeous on a sunny day. We had seen pictures from friends and on the internet. We had envisioned what our day would look like and this foggy mist with a few shrubs and grass was not meeting our expectations.
But as we climbed, the kids were noticing everything. “Look at these pretty leaves!”, “WOW!!! A giant mud puddle!, “Look Mommy, flowers!”
I quickly realized they were seeing beauty everywhere because they had no expectations of what this day would hold. They had no idea where we were going or what it might look like. They had no preconceived notions of what would take place or what they would see. They just trusted us.
They knew we were together and we were going hiking and that is exactly what we did. They delighted in the whole experience because they had no other ideals for comparison.
This foggy misty hike was perfect in their eyes.
I wonder how many times my Heavenly Father has placed beauty around me and I’ve missed it because it didn’t look exactly like what I was expecting? Like hidden treasures along a trail, have I missed His blessings because I’ve been so preoccupied with my own expectations?
Has my perception of the experience negated the glory of His goodness?
I let that sink in as we walked and I thanked God for being so persistent in His love for us. Even if I’ve walked through some moments like a cranky toddler who needed a nap, missing out on the sweetness of blessings right in front of me, He is ever faithful and always good. He never stops pursuing us, never stops loving us and never stops delighting in us. He gently and graciously, continues to open our eyes to His wonder and majesty.
Then, just as we rounded the corner to head back down the trail, the clouds began to lift and the sun peaked over the ridgeline casting a glow on the brilliant autumn colors. What was once hidden in the clouds was now on glorious display for all to see.
We soaked it in for a moment before continuing on. I was glad we got to see the view but I was even more grateful for the lesson in the fog.
Sometimes, that’s where we sense God’s presence the most; in the foggy misty moments of life. The moments no one proclaims or praises. His gifts there can be hard to see, but if we open our eyes, there are blessings beyond our expectations.