The Best Laid Plans

 Those of you who really know me, know that I loathe, and I am not sure if loathe is even a strong enough word, the early morning hours. However, lately I have felt something so strong within my soul to get outside into nature for a hike/nature walk and some picture taking. I tried for a week to make a “plan,” to find somebody to go with me, but for whatever reason all my hiking/walking and picture taking friends had other commitments and could not accompany me. I had two choices … I could choose to sit home and feel sorry for myself again OR I could choose to go alone, I chose the later. So, my “plan” began to form. I am smart enough to realize I did not want to go hiking in a real secluded place alone, a girl does have to be safe, and the gorge is SO crowded on the weekends so I decided to stay away from there, so I decided to go to Trillium Lake. I had seen pictures of beautiful reflection of Mt. Hood in the lake so I decided that was what I was going to do...and the “plan” hatched for the perfect picture. Unfortunately, to get that perfect picture on the lake, you have to get up early because once the water gets stirred up, you cannot get a good reflection shot so that meant getting up early. Since it is an almost 2 hour drive to Trillium and sunrise is around 6 a.m., that meant a very early start, yikes. I got up at 4:30 and was out the door at 4:45. The skies were gorgeous as I headed out, at least what I could see of them, but the further east I headed, the cloudier they became, and at one point, I even had mist hitting the windshield. I could see my “plan” deteriorating with the weather. As I pulled into the trail head at Trillium Lake and walked up to the lake, I saw the visions of my perfect picture evaporating as the fog spilled over the lake. After making an almost 2 hour drive though, I decided I would make the best of it and take some shots. As the sun started to break over the mountain, I snapped away. It is difficult to take any decent pictures in the fog so I gave up in a hurry and decided to walk around the lake. I turned back and looked over my shoulder and saw this man casting his line...

As I was lamenting to myself and to God as I walked, I looked out over the marsh and onto the lake and stumbled upon a bird, a heron maybe, (I do not know my birds)?

The combination of the sun coming up and the mystery of the fog added to the beauty of the scene.

As I rounded a corner on my walk, I came across some beautiful sites on the lake, everything from people kayaking to the majesty of the mountain and it got me to thinking...

 

it started to become apparent to me "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8). I started out the morning so hung up on my own my "plan," that I could have missed His plan for my day.

Had I stuck to my "plan," I would not have gotten any of these other shots.  I would have been content to get the one shot of the reflection of Mt. Hood in Trillium Lake and would not have gotten any of the other shots. While I realized it is okay to have a plan, just make sure you are listening to God's plan...you never know what you might miss, otherwise.