A few years ago we traveled out West to one of our favorite places, Yellowstone National Park.  We were staying in a small “mom and pop” lodge outside of Cody, Wyoming.  Naturally, we took several scenic drives in the park over the course of several days, reliving some memories from when we’d visited Cody when our sons were very young.  I was pleased to see that it really hadn’t changed a great deal in that period of time.  Yes, there was a Wal-Mart now, and yes, there were some new homes scattered on the hills along the drive - but the rodeo stadium was still there, advertising their weekly schedule.  And it didn’t feel commercialized.

My husband would probably beg to differ with me, just a little bit.  As we drove past a house that had a “mountain” of antlers in the front yard I said “turn around, turn around, I think he sells antlers.  Let's go in and take a look.”  He gave me “the look”..  You know, the one that says “I don’t really want to but since you do, I will.”  The shop was open, and the owner was tinkering around arranging some artwork when we walked in.  I thought I was in heaven - there were gorgeous antler chandeliers hanging from the rafters.  There were antler carvings, there were all types of antlers for sale - elk, mule deer, moose of many sizes.

The owner smiled and said to David “I know what you’re thinking, and YES, this IS a tourist trap!”  We laughed.  I’m sure the owner laughed best though.   It was a very enjoyable tourist trap, and I left with 3 sets of mule deer horns, and one set of small moose antlers.  I still have them, we are deciding how best to use the precious commodity in a piece of lodge look decor or artwork.  You can’t rush these things, you know!

I have to say that the drive from Cody over to the East Yellowstone Park entrance is one of the most soul-healing drives you can imagine.  There is such a mixture of beautifully colored rock formations, meandering green water, wildlife sightings, and mountain cliffs that you are kept on the edge of your seat scanning the landscape so you don’t miss anything.

One afternoon we came across a trailhead that seemed accessible enough to a couple folks with bad knees so we pulled into the small dirt parking lot and jumped out of the truck to take a look around.  The first thing I noticed next to the truck was a large sign that said “WARNING - Grizzly bear area”  “OK, enough said” I thought.  We decided not to roam too far from the truck because we didn’t have any bear spray.  Then we started to hear thunder in the distance.  OK, I guess a hike just isn’t meant to be.  As we walked back toward the truck, a passing tourist called out to us, “Hey, did you know you have a flat tire?”  Well, no we didn’t know.  But now we did. Ugh! 

David had a bad back, and crawling around under the bed of the truck to get the spare tire, lying on the sharp rocks and maneuvering the tire off the bracket was no easy task for him.  I wasn’t a whole lot of help, of course, but he managed to wrestle the spare and the tire jack out of the tire carrier and proceeded to take the flat tire off the truck.  Of course there are always a couple lugs that are on there super tight and don’t want to budge, and we didn’t have an impact driver tool which would have really helped. 

Now the sound of thunder was drawing closer and closer.  The sky grew very dark, and we knew the storm would hit us soon.  He was working as quickly as he could under the circumstances.  My job was to watch for bears, and to watch the sky.  OK, got it.  My attention was drawn to a cliff across the road, where some folks were pointing to an object up near the top - it was a wolf.  “Oh great” I thought.  “I’m not telling him about the wolf right now.”  Focus Connie, focus.  David was finished putting the spare on.  He threw the flat tire into the bed of the truck and we jumped in our seats just as the wind picked up and the storm rolled in.

We sat there a few moments to let the worst of it pass, and then slowly headed toward Cody, to see if Wal-Mart had the size tire we would need.  The spare was only an emergency “donut”, meant to get you to a tire shop, but we were grateful for it.  We didn’t realize it, but the route we chose would take us up a steep and winding two lane road to the top of the mountains. The storm continued, and we pulled over to watch the clouds race over us.  The lightning cracked around us, and then the sun suddenly peaked out bringing a rainbow over the cliffs.  It was so amazing to sit and watch nature’s show.  The rain let up, and we took our time on the switchbacks that led you down to the lower elevation.  

We found Wal-Mart, and they DID have a tire shop, and they DID have the tire we needed.  They gave us an appointment for the next day, so we limped the truck back to our lodging.  There was a restaurant on the property, so we happily headed over for supper.

Food For Thought

Looking back on that experience, I realize that God knew that we were going to have a flat tire long before we did.  God knew exactly where we were going to be when we figured that out.  He knew we weren’t going to be in the most optimum spot to be changing a tire, but He kept us safe, He had his eyes on us.  He not only kept us safe, He gave us an unexpected experience on the mountain top, in the midst of the storm - the beautiful rainbow, and the colors in the wet rocks glowing with the shafts of sunlight shining on them.

Jesus wasn’t exactly born in the most optimum place, was He?  A stable, with all the smells, the sounds, the manure.  He was wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger, which is a cow’s feeding trough.  It was cold.  This wasn’t exactly how Mary might have pictured giving birth.  What did she know?  She was just a young girl, really.  But God had His eyes on the little family.  He kept them safe.  He performed His word, as was prophesied. (See Isaiah 7:14)

Then there were the shepherds.  The lowliest of society, seemingly not the most optimum choice for the angels to appear to.  Out there in the fields with their sheep, just doing what shepherds do.  And all of a sudden, a “multitude of angels” appeared to them bringing good news of the Messiah’s birth!  It was shared with them first, of all people.  And the angels told them where to find the baby Jesus, and how to know it was Him.  He was the only newborn baby in a manger in Bethlehem!

Mary had an unexpected experience, a virgin girl being chosen by God to miraculously carry and deliver the very Son of God. (See Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23) The shepherds had an unexpected experience out in the fields, and in the humble setting of the stable.  The beautiful Son of God.  Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, God with us.

And the light of an unexpected star shone, showing the way for many days to come, giving the wise men guidance on their journey to honor this “new king”.  (See Matthew 2:1-12)

God still works in unexpected ways, lights the way for us to have unexpected encounters with Him, and still has His eyes on those who carry Christ in their hearts.  In the storms of life, we’re called to take time to sit in His presence, meditate on His glory, hide His word in our hearts, worship Him even while we can’t see the end of the storm yet, and listen for what He will speak to us.

Hold on!  The clouds will pass.  He is with you! 

Psalm 121:1-8 (TPT) “I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection is only from the Lord, our creator who made the heavens and the earth….God is our keeper, He will never forget or ignore me.  He will never slumber nor sleep; He is the Guardian-God for His people, Israel.  Yahweh Himself will watch over you; He’s always at your side to shelter you safely in His presence.  He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.  He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity as He continuously watches over you.  You will be guarded by God Himself.  You will be safe when you leave your home, and safely you will return.  He will protect you now and he’ll protect you forevermore!