Lessons from a van down in the river #1 - Swamped

 

So I have been contemplating that river scene lately. You know, the one with me and my 3 kids in our swamped Dodge Caravan stuck in the middle of the Virgin River. I have a lot of feelings and emotions return to me as I relive that day.  Let's see... anxiety, relief, shock, embarrassment, awe, despair, humility, shame, hysteria, a bit of humor and I would say mostly gratitude! So, before I zoomed into the river like a crazy person, I prayed that we would make it home safe and sound. The answers to that prayer didn't quite happen as I thought it would, but eventually we did make it home safe and sound. I should mention that the "Swamp Van" actually runs like a champ and doesn't even reak! I have been thinking a lot about all the help we received and the perfect timing of that help. That angel guy who worked tirelessly for 3 hours just because he was the coolest, the random kid that showed up with a toe rope when the tie downs weren't doing the trick, the man's son who just wanted to help but didn't quite know what to do so he just hung out and smiled, and also the water that seriously was at least a half a foot lower by the time we drove the other van through the river. All blessings! All perfectly timed blessings!

It's kinda like life!

This last year has been quite an adventure for us. We have hit some deep water and felt super stuck at times. As I have been reviewing the year I have realized that just like the river we have had so many perfectly timed blessings. We have had the people, the tools, the smiles, the ropes, everything that we needed to make it through this swamp of a year. I am so grateful for those perfectly timed blessings!

I believe that God that knows that the lessons we will learn from being stuck in a river are often much greater than a simple drive on an easy well groomed road. I look back at the river and at this last year of life in amazement that we made or are making it out. At times it may not seem like our prayers have been answered, but I know that the Lord's goals and desires for us are the same as our prayers, that we make it home safe and sound.