The Vision's Appointed Time

What better way to spend Christmas than walking along a beautiful river in 70 degree weather on a bike path that you didn't know had been finished and now extended all the way from a kayak put-in point to a kayak take-out point?

Perfect. Feliz Navidad!

What this means is I put my kayak in the river at a lovely park, run some easy rapids for three miles, where I come to another park, and get off the river. Then I strap my kayak to the little collapsible cart that fits on the back of the kayak, and pull it back to where my car is parked, three miles along the lovely paved bike path. I feel like I have died and gone to heaven.

The last time I walked this path, many months ago, it was paved to just a half mile from the take-out point, the second park three miles down the river from the launch site. I was distraught over this, as I could not figure out how I would be able to do this section of the river without a second person to shuttle me between the two points. The current is very strong in this section, and thus I could not kayak upstream to return to the launch site.

I lamented over this terrible foresight and planning on the part of the trail designers. Why stop a half mile short when the advantages of connecting the trail to two parks made so much sense? I ranted and raved a bit, and was terribly sad that this gorgeous piece of river was denied to me and my beloved kayak. If only the master designer had asked me!

This is what we do to God...at least I do. I see only part of His plan enacted, and I am certain He has not thought it through. Even to my mortal eyes, it is clear that He needs my input or He would know how terribly, even catastrophically He has orchestrated events. If only He would listen to my brilliant ideas, the world would not be in such a terrible mess.

And then, how humbling to discover He knew what He was up to all along. The path He has placed me on will be completed perfectly. One day I will walk it start to finish, and understand. But for now, I only see an unfinished portion which makes little sense to me...and mourn over what I cannot see.

One day, it will be done, and I suspect I will be even happier than when I discovered the bike path connected the two parks. 

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Habakkuk 2:3 

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.