Detours

 Upon arriving in Madison i really thought i would start exploring the city and re-discovering it.  This would mean connecting with old friends, contacting organizations and starting to research the city.  i arrived on December 8th and was invigorated by the move and being with family, but I really wasn't planning on staying put.

For way too long i had just wanted to go hang out with Renee in Grand Rapids.  We had barely spent any time together this last summer; she had been so busy working with DOOR in Miami.  Now i had time available and wanted to help her through her exam week: make hot chocolate, help her stay focused on her studying, give her those big bear hugs that she so loves. It would be easy!  Just rent a car and go!  i'd stay in her dorm if I had to, or with my niece.

But i kept waiting for a bad snow storm to die down.  While it was beautiful and sunny in Madison, i heeded the advise of my family to stay put.  Sure enough the highway i would have traveled on south of Chicago was closed due to heavy snow and a piled up traffic accident. i finally resigned myself to the fact that i'd have to stay put, and began to settle in.

One of the only pieces of furniture that i was really sorry to part with in Miami had been my futon.  So i searched Craigslist for one. My plan for settling into my new place down in the basement was to leave one of the two rooms as it currently was: using it as my bedroom. Company could continue to use it with the big double bed and have access to the bathroom, while i would sleep in the other room.  The other room i was going to set up as a living area/office with the futon up as a couch when it would just be me.

By December 16th i felt somewhat settled in.  The weather was tolerable so i was going to continue on with my next plan to meet my kids in Chicago and visit friends there for the weekend.  i'd borrowed my brother-in-law Bill's truck to go get the futon. After returning the truck i ran off to pick up my rental car so that i could leave for Chicago the following day.  It was while i was renting the car that Bill had a sudden massive heart attack and died within minutes.

The complete surprise and great sorrow of this tragedy is way to hard for me to put into words.  Of course i canceled the plans for Chicago and told my kids to come directly to Madison instead.  As word went out and the funeral plans solidified more family started coming at various times over the next 2 weeks, which also ended up being the Christmas and New Years holiday.

Bill surrounded by his loving family!

Now it is January 2nd, i've had a day where things are back to "normal" and some routines can be picked up again or established.  Even on adventures i'm partial to a certain amount of routine.  The truth, that was only hit home in these past few weeks, is i do well with things going partially according to my plans.  i like to think that i am open to detours and distractions, but when the road turns in a direction that i'm not sure, it does throw me for a loop!

i know i can get back on track with some of the things i was planning to do.  But i am grateful for this detour because the family was drawn together and i was here to be present and serve!  i know that my presence will be welcomed in the days, weeks and months to come as Bill's wife and daughters go through the various stages of  mourning.  It sure wasn't what i was planning to do.

Already i had conceded that while i make plans, God directs my path. i don't believe the plans are to be abandoned, simply delayed or modified.  But it is sometimes hard to remember that detours, even tragic ones, can bring unforeseen blessings!