Recently my wife and I had a chance to drive on the part of the Blue Ridge Parkway that passes through North Carolina. When we set out, the weather was clear. The first few overlooks provided us with beautiful views of the valleys below. But as our trip progressed, we began to encounter fog. It became so thick that at times it was difficult to see the next car ahead. The wind picked up and the temperature dropped. The higher the elevation, of course, the worse it became.
We arrived at the parking area near Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River. We made the short hike to the summit. There was a raised, circular platform that permitted views in all directions. For us, however, the fog allowed no view in any direction. I had hoped to see the sun set from that vantage point, but the sun never broke through the clouds.
Maybe I will have a chance to revisit that spot when conditions are more favorable. Nevertheless, the experience did give me an opportunity to reflect on my disappointment. I had set out with an expectation that not only would we reach our desired destination but that spectacular scenery awaited us there.
I’m familiar with the saying, “An expectation is just a disappointment waiting to happen.” I think that’s true, but I have a different point. Those of us who have set out on the way of transformation can have expectations, too. Like the approval of others or agreement among our family members, as a reward for cooperating with God’s plan for our lives. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that God’s transforming work in us is not primarily for us but for Him—not about my getting what I want but about His getting what He wants. Certainly transformation benefits us, but it’s mainly about advancing His eternal purpose.
That’s the distant scene that the fog can’t obscure, because we see it by faith.
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