Mid-course correction

I'm thankful!

“Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but where there are many counsellors, they are established” (Proverbs 15:22, Douay-Rheims).

Just as we were approaching the big weekend of moving our earthly belongings across two state lines, the thought came to me that we should postpone the move two weeks to the end of August, and instead travel to our new location only to pick up the keys. I ran this past Charlotte and she was immediately in agreement. As we shared this idea with family and friends they also confirmed the idea. The only reason we would travel on the 15th was that this was the designated day for all new residents to received their keys.

So the morning of the 15th, after Charlotte’s radiation treatment, we began the six-hour trip with some kitchen boxes and frozen food that we would put in the apartment we are moving to. The trip was uneventful, relaxing and a good change of pace from the regimen we’ve been on.

We received our keys and walked to our new apartment. As we opened the door we were shocked to discover that the apartment was not ready for us. It looked exactly as it had when the previous tenants moved out—trashed is a too strong, but not by much. Even though initially the experience felt like a gut punch, I quickly gave thanks that we had not followed our initial plan to travel with the truck and all our belongings. What a mess that would have been!

The “peace that passes all understanding” of God that we have experienced over the past two months continued to flow into our hearts after the initial shock. We were assured that everything will be “up to snuff” even tomorrow. And so we hope.

Without being dramatic, I am reminded of the words of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10…

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

This morning I am sitting comfortably in the home of our daughter and family, writing on my laptop, in good health, and surrounded by my loving family. And even with this setback, we are blessed! I am so thankful for God’s provision, even to plant the idea of postponing our move-in date. And that’s the bottom line.