The Trap of Expectations

It isn’t anything like we expected.

The RV park.  The city.  The lake.  We thought we were headed for quaint and sleepy.  We arrived at crumbling and supersonic.

We’re heading across Ontario toward Windsor, with the plan to cross back into the USA near Detroit.  All the better to visit our dear friends in Michigan.

We thought we would take an extra day for a little walleye fishing with a guide.  The places we “scoped out” via the Web seemed to be just our style, with one exception — no WiFi.  Where would I go to upload today’s blog post?

We arrived at the RV park.  They are obviously very good at marketing.  The description of their “resort” was, shall we say, a bit exaggerated?  I’m not sure where they got the photo they placed in the guide to Canadian RV parks.  It doesn’t resemble anything I see on the premises.

The words You have had on my radar screen for the last few weeks appeared in my mind, as if on a billboard:  CHOICES and CONSEQUENCES.  We cannot change the park’s conditions, and there are no other options nearby.  But we can choose our attitude about this place… can’t we, Lord?

So, I choose SILVER LINING in the dark cloud!!!  LEMONADE to be made out of lemons!!!

We have a safe place to spend the night.  We have electric and water hookup.  We have a green space to take Skippy for a walk on her leash.  We dumped our black and grey tanks on the way into the park, so we really don’t need a sewer hookup.  It is a quiet place, even if not “quaint.”

We drove down to the nearby town’s marina, to make sure we knew where we were to meet our fishing guide tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM.  We thought we were coming to a sleepy little fishing town.  Instead, it is a “supersonic” city that continues for miles. The lake is HUGE.  From where we sit, it almost looks like Chesapeake Bay in Maryland!

In the spirit of sipping my LEMONADE as I look up at the SILVER LINING… We have a fishing guide who knows these waters.  By Your Grace, Lord, we will leave these waters at noon tomorrow with our ice chest full of our limit for walleye.  With our mouths watering for a dinner of fresh fish tomorrow night, at the next campground we have chosen some five hours away.

AND… I am sitting at the marina in our truck, sheltered from the cool temperatures outside.  Looking out over the marina, with the lake in the distance.  With as strong a WiFi signal as I could ever want!!!

There’s a “trap” inherent in expectations… but only if we choose disappointment when those expectations are not fulfilled.  Maybe such disappointments are really just opportunities to “bench press” the fruit of Your Holy Spirit, Lord.  To exercise our Love, Joy and Peace “Muscles.”  Now that’s Food (Fruit) for Thought!

It’s easy enough to feel love, joy and peace when everything is going our way.  How much more valuable would it be for us if we could — if we would — choose Your Fruit when our expectations are “crumbling” around us?  If we would choose Love instead of disgust… Joy instead of discouragement… Peace instead of desperation?

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:12-13)

Thanks for the “workout,” Lord.  No time today for a bike ride, but my attitude in right there in Your target zone!

Enjoying Your lemonade (You do serve THE BEST!)…

Abba’s Girl

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