Not What I Expected

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

A few weeks ago, my husband came home and told me that he had an unexpected long weekend coming up. He asked me what I wanted to do with the extra time. The forecast was for rain, so camping and biking were out. On a whim, I suggested shopping at the Mall of America in Minnesota. I needed to use some airline passes and credits before they expired. To my surprise, he said yes.

It would be a quick trip, so I rapidly created an itinerary that I thought would ensure the best use of our time. I wanted to make sure we saw all we could, rode the crazy rides, ate the lobster rolls I had told him about, shopped at all the amazing stores, and took in every inch of the largest mall in the United States.

The hotel we stayed at provided complimentary transportation to and from the mall as often as we wanted to go. Jose, a younger man, served as the hotel’s main driver. He was a hard worker who was also friendly and prompt. All day long, he would transport guests to and from the airport or the mall, and always with a smile.

The other backup driver was named Steve; he also worked as the hotel’s maintenance man. He was very friendly and informative, and always provided exceptional service with a smile.

On one of the 5D rides we went on, we met two small kids who were probably 8 and 5 years old. They were full of energy and excitement, and while waiting in line for the rides to begin, they would tell us all about what to expect. They asked where we were from and were surprised that we flew all the way from Idaho to be there. Their sheer joy and laughter were contagious. At the end of our second ride together, the young boy ran back to say, “It was nice meeting you. I hope you have a nice trip.”

On our last flight home, my husband was upgraded to first class, which was wonderful and gave him extra legroom. That change let me move to his original window seat, which I was very excited about. We were informed that we would be flying through a storm and it might get bumpy. At first, the sky was so blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. It was so peaceful just watching the scenery. As we approached our hometown, we began to descend through the storm. Just before diving into the dark clouds, God blessed me with a view of a rainbow below the plane. What an incredible sight!

There were only a few things we did on my original agenda, and I was feeling a bit disappointed until God showed me that His agenda had been the whole purpose of the trip. He had orchestrated everything, just the way it needed to be.

On the last night, we were at the mall; we both ordered delicious lasagna. It was way too much, and we only ended up eating one order. I asked for a to-go box and told my husband that we would give it to whichever driver came to pick us up. He didn’t think they would want it, and if they didn’t, I would throw it away. When Jose arrived, I asked how his day was, and he said very busy. I asked if he had eaten any dinner, and he said he hadn’t eaten all day. I told him we greatly appreciated all his hard work and offered him the lasagna. He was so excited, and he eagerly accepted it with a thank you. As soon as we returned to the hotel, he asked the restaurant staff for a fork and sat down to eat.

God’s agenda was for Jose to know that he was noticed and appreciated. We were blessed with the privilege of sharing a meal with him that God had provided. He knew that we would order too much food. He knew that Jose would be the driver and that he was hungry, and He let us be part of His work right then, in a different state because of a last-minute decision. How incredible is that!

The young kids on the rides were also part of God’s agenda. He wanted us to experience simple, beautiful joy. They were so happy and carefree, not to mention polite and well-mannered. After seeing hundreds of people throughout the mall with their faces glued to their phones, it was so refreshing to be reminded to be fully engaged in life’s little moments. Take some time to talk to strangers, laugh together, and maybe scream a bit when the 3D shark crashes into the screen. This was definitely a Divine Encounter.

I also loved how God orchestrated the seat changes on the flight home. His beautiful creation was just waiting for me to look out the window and take it all in, and I can only imagine His smile when I saw the rainbow from the top side. He knew I would be sitting in that exact seat, at that exact moment, and see that amazing sight. I think He made it just for me. A beautiful reminder that He sees me wherever I am.

His plans are so much better than anything we could ever imagine. He is always orchestrating Divine Encounters wherever we are or wherever we go. Next time, I think I’ll leave the checklist at home and simply watch and see what God will do with His agenda, and be ready to fully participate. I know it will be even better than I expected.