Do you live your life with adventure, or get frustrated when it doesn’t go the way you think it should go? Talk about an adventure this past Labor Day weekend! We had our tentative plans made out and watched them unfold with each new day. On the last evening, we decided to camp on family property with friends. A beautiful winding rocky road through tall oak trees to get to the cabin in the woods. We thought a little grilling, sleeping by the creek, and relaxing by the camp fire would be just what the doctor ordered to get away from our work phones, computers, and be out in the wilderness. We were in for a surprise of our lives compared to the picture that I dreamed up in my head.
It started out by the design and dream. Throwing the bags in a little competitive match, starting a fire to begin grilling dinner, and setting up our tents by the creek. It was a perfect place where the water cascaded over the rocks to create a relaxing fountain sound, and the sun sparkled off the crystal clear water. Breathtaking and relaxing. Until…the raindrops began, and the clouds came roaring in like a lion. A few raindrops turned into a downpour with lighting and thunder. We retreated into the cabin for safety, and thought the storm would quickly pass. We talked, laughed, and no one was upset our plans changed as quickly as they began. A few hours went by with heavy rain and lightening, and we decided to check out our tents by the creek. We made our own umbrellas with plastic garbage bags. Our faces and arms poking out of the garbage bags, we headed and fell down the wet slippery hill in the dark. A few of us had our phone lights on to guide us in the dark and away from the thorny bushes that grabbed and punctured our skin.
The creek was out of its banks, and the relaxing sound was now a ROAR with strong currents that were flooding our tents! We quickly worked together to move all of our tents to higher ground, but it wasn’t easy. Releasing the steel stake anchors in the water, lifting and carrying the tents with all the contents still intact, while in darkness as rain pelleted our faces! My adrenaline was as high as a kite. We worked together, and settled in our tents to ride out the rest of the storm.
One would think the storm, flooding of our tents, and having tons of trouble getting our vehicles out the following morning would’ve made for a not so pleasant experience. Quite the opposite. We all had attitudes of adventure rather being upset by the events that shaped our holiday, and we embraced them with open arms. We bonded with deeper fellowship levels, the kids have forever stories to tell, and it brought about a unity between us that will be memories of friends who endured over obstacles that kept coming at us.
Do you live your life with that type of attitude when the going gets tough, or do you complain and wish the design and dream in your head could be easy without any challenges? It’s easy to give up, and to complain that life isn’t fair. It’s much more rewarding if you adapt and embrace what happens with a positive attitude. I’m hanging onto my memories of walking out of the wilderness as a fun adventure with friends instead of a really negative experience that I’d like to just forget. Life is what you make it, not what it throws at you.
Ezekiel 34:25
I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessings.