Not quite my plans....

I went to Charleston for a writer's retreat, to kayak with the dolphins and to work on my novel. I did indeed find dolphins on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant (Charleston.) In fact, despite 100 degree heat, I kayaked for 4 hours. I could not leave. Every time heat stroke threatened and I considered heading back, I saw more dolphins. Sometimes I was in the midst of  a pod of 6 or 7 of them, all surfacing within feet of me. It was spectacular. I followed them in my kayak, and they did not seem disturbed by my presence at all.

I may never have been so happy. My next novel is maybe about dolphins. I had hoped to come in from kayaking and write it, having spent the entire afternoon in their presence.  However, writing did not appear to be on the agenda. As I walked to the hotel parking garage, wheeling my kayak back to the car, a most dismaying sight met my eyes. A sight no one hopes to see when on vacation. My tire was flat.

The good news is, I had spent four hours storing up joy and peace. This was critical. I had seen herons taking flight...

Dolphins surfacing right in front of me....

found an island in the middle of the waterway, with roosting pelicans, where I sat in the water to cool off....

and saw beautiful boats edging Shem Creek, with pelicans and gulls swooping overhead....
All this was why I didn't freak out when I saw the flat tire. I needed to eat, having kayaked four straight hours in 100 degrees, so got a dinner to go from the restaurant beside my hotel, and settled on my balcony to eat while overlooking the creek. Dolphins surfaced frequently. It was an exquisite view.

When I finished dinner, I called my motor club. It turns out I don't have roadside emergency service. Bummer. I went to the front desk and asked for suggestions. She called a friend. The nicest two men showed up from Georgia...as in Russia. Not Georgia, USA. They own a cab company here and do odd jobs. They offered to attempt to patch my tire. Meanwhile, despite a sold-out hotel, the front desk sweetie pie got me a room for another night...just in case my car woes had not ended.

By 10 pm, the Georgians determined the tire could not be removed due to a frozen bolt, but the tire was good. The problem was the valve. They hoped to replace whatever needed replacing on the valve. They would call me in fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes stretched into half an hour. I sat on the balcony watching the lights dancing on the water.

It was a beautiful (though not cheap) place to be stranded. I was far too distracted to work on my novel, but it was wonderful sitting on the balcony as night descended, smelling the ocean, watching the boats, and the lights of the restaurants across the water flicker on.

As always, I wondered what God was telling me. I had wanted to stay two nights, but didn't feel I should. Perhaps now I will be forced to. I think He may have been showing me that the God who created the dolphins, the ocean, the roosting pelicans, the herons, and the tides, would not be unable to fix my tire. One way or another, I will eventually get home again. For now, perhaps I was to be patient, wait on the balcony watching the glory of His creation, and trust Him.

Well past my bedtime, the Georgians called.They could not fix it.  But I was to call him in the morning and he would help me get to an honest mechanic who could. I asked what I owed him. No charge. 5 hours or so of work....no charge.

This morn, I was up at 5. I watched the sunrise from my balcony, and while most of the world was still asleep,I kayaked up Shem Creek. It was magical. The Georgian returned at 9 a.m., spoke with the mchanic and assured me I would not be charged for a new tire, just the valve part. I tried to pay him, but he refused again. I told him I am an artist and would paint him a picture. He agreed. A picture of his daughter would be most appreciated.

The tow truck wouldn't arrive till lunch time, and with the frozen bolt, no telling how long the repair would be. Hubby and I concurred. Best to stay at hotel another night. I am sitting on the patio now, overlooking Shem Creek, watching dolphin play. Another night here. Oh drat. (Sarcasm alert)

Maybe God is just saying, "Enjoy."

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Romans 12:12 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 8:25 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Psalm 37:7-9 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.