A Thoroughly Disguised Blessing

A Thoroughly Disguised Blessing

Two weeks ago, I had an annoying trial that turned into a blessing. I bet you’ve had those, too.

Here’s how it started, ever so innocently. Our oldest grandson had expressed interest in an eventual job with computers. My husband and I thought a one-week computer camp on 3-D animation, sponsored by the University of Texas at Dallas, would be just the thing to give him a leg up. I’m not big on driving these days, but since the location was in Irving, I figured I could manage the two round trips each day. When we registered him, we found he needed a laptop for camp, so we splurged and ordered him one on-line for his birthday. All set—right?

The Wednesday before camp, the laptop arrived, AND the Irving camp was canceled that very same day. However, UTD gave the option of transferring the registration to their Richardson campus. This meant driving both ways during rush hour and my staying on campus all day.

Have you been on the President George Bush Turnpike during rush hour? First it is a RACETRACK complete with curves. Then you suddenly see red brake lights, and the speedway becomes a parking lot, only to repeat the breakneck dash and the turtle crawl several more times. This kind of driving may appeal to young daredevils, but for an OLD person like me, it was hair raising. I claimed Luke 12:32 over and over: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (NIV)

But this experience also held blessings. Foremost was the time spent with Riley, enjoying his dry sense of humor, even about the traffic that had the audacity to be on the highway with us. Secondarily was the discovery of a goldmine of books in the UTD library about the Edo Period of Japan. Even books published in the nineteenth century were in the library’s main stacks. These gave me badly needed details for the novel I’m working on that is set in 1859 Japan.

God brought us through safely. Riley liked the camp and was able to program animation for the beginning of a video game. I experienced how God could turn the keenly felt disappointment of the Irving cancelation into a large, unexpected blessing.

But I’m not hankering for any more time on that tollway.