or, as the modern translation states,
The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew.
Our camping trip under Oregon skies, ostensibly to view the Perseids meteor shower, was less than auspicious. That is to say, it was a bust, celestial viewing speaking. After 29 dry never-a-drop-of-rain days in Northwest Oregon, the skies chose that very night to open up and pour a full inch of rain on our unsuspecting and astonished heads! Who knew?
And it wasn’t enough that we missed our meteor shower; we had the added attraction of experiencing flooded tents! Sure, we remembered to bring our rain flaps – we even put them on just so. Nothing dissuaded the water, however, from running into Rae Anne’s tent as she camped on a small depression at the edge of the campsite. Sometime during the night she crawled into our tent, wringing wet and shivering like a drenched puppy. The three of us finished out the night in relative dryness (as opposed to swimming in the tent – the next stage in our condition) and, as soon as the sun arose and the torrent let up just a bit, we broke camp, threw all of our damp possessions into the cars, and headed home to warm showers and dry beds.
Actually, we spent most of the day cleaning out tents, washing sleeping bags and clothing, scrubbing down camping equipment, and sorting through our remaining rations of semi-dry foodstuffs. Of course, the rain stopped soon after we got home and that was the end of that! Turns out our camping venture took place on the only day it has rained around here since late June – with no rain forecast for the immediate future. Sigh.
Usually, I like to think I'm organized. When I plan an activity, I try to take into account all contingencies - and most of my ventures are met with some degree of success. But, once again, God has chosen to remind me that, really, I have little control over anything in my life. What makes me think differently? "The best laid plans . . . etc.." Foolish broad.
Yes, we’ll go camping again. When Wally and I return from our visit to California we plan to camp a few nights on Mt. Hood – rain or shine. But it would be just grand if the weatherman (or whoever wants to take responsibility for climate control) would promise just a bit of sunshine – or, at the least, no floods, fires, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Just a simple camping trip. Please.
No comments:
Post a Comment