The best-laid plans ...!

It was the Scots Bard, Robert (Rabbie) Burns who, in his poem "To a mouse" states that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley" (No matter how carefully we plan, be we mice or man, those plans often go awry). These past couple of days have certainly proved the truth of that comment in our own situation!

We left home, early on Monday morning, to head north for our annual visit to family and friends, in Scotland, for Christmas and the New Year. We were also towing the Eriba caravan that we had been unable to register, and that had been sold in the UK. The action of "Les Gilets Jaunes" (the Yellow Vests) has lessened, so we had very little delay 'on the road'. Our first overnight stop was in Orleans and, the next morning we headed up to our familiar watering-hole in Arques. 

So far, so good. It was on Wednesday that the 'fun' began! We left Arques to drive the 35 km to the port of Calais, to board the ferry that would take us to Dover. As we drove into the port area, my wife discovered that her passport was not in the pouch in which both are usually kept. Panic!!! We drove to the parking area, and searched everywhere else that we could think of. No passport! My poor wife was frantic, and blamed herself for the situation. However, we were discovering (not for the first time, I must add) that "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft a-gley"

The decision was made to return home. We left some of our luggage in the Eriba, and headed south. After about 50 km, my wife wondered if she had checked some of the bags carefully enough - so we went back to Calais. Definitely no passport. Head south again - with stops only for some food, and for 'comfort breaks'. We arrived home about 0130, Thursday. Five hours sleep, then attempts to change the booking on the ferry to Friday. P&O were sympathetic, but as we had booked through Direct Ferries, they could do nothing. DF are in the UK, so there office didn't open until 1000, French time. We set off, back up the road, managing to have the booking changed - we were grateful for the mobile 'phone!

Of course, we also had appointments made, and visits arranged, in the UK - not least the return of the Eriba. Countless other text-messages were sent back and forward. We arrived back in Dover at about 2330, and managed a few hours sleep in the caravan before boarding the ferry, and heading to Dover - two days later than we had intended. All the forward planning was, effectively, for nothing. "The best-laid plans ... ...!

However, the situation, and Burns' words, set me thinking - isn't it wonderful that, although our plans so often get turned upside-down, God's plans are always fulfilled. Right at the beginning, when man's disobedience allowed sin to enter the perfect world that God had created, Almighty God made it clear that He already had a plan. In the first of what are referred to as "Messianic passages", He says to the serpent: "... cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen. 3:14-15). This is acknowledged as a reference to the Lord Jesus, the incarnate God, whose coming into the world, "... at the right time ..." (Rom.5:6; see Gal.4:4), we celebrate next week.

The Tanakh (the Old Testament) is filled with prophecies that Almighty God has made - and countless numbers of them have already been fulfilled. I shan't go into any others here, but it doesn't require too much basic research to discover many of them!

So the Bard was right - but only as far as mice and men are concerned! When it comes to the Creator of all that exists, His plans are perfect, and they are fulfilled. Indeed, there are prophecies that are being fulfilled in our own time, even as the Lord Jesus was asked by the Jewish religious leaders if He was indeed, Messiah, simply because they were expecting Messiah to appear at that time, in accordance with prophetic utterances. Of course, they were looking for the wrong kind of Messiah!

It was a simple mistake that led to the disruption of our plans; other plans may be disrupted for countless other reasons. But let us be thankful that "God is working His purpose out as year succeeds to year" (A.C.Ainger), and rejoice that His faithfulness is so great!