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A Change of Plans
Sometimes
an upcoming event will seem to be a sure thing , but we find later it
was just a stimulus to prepare us for something else. We find if we had
not planned ahead , a very important function in our life would not
have taken place.
This was the case in 1984, I had replied to an ad in Outdoor Photography. A man living in Zambia was needing to communicate with someone in the states ,film processing was difficult there and he needed someone to process film for him. I replied, as it sounded like a lucrative business proposition, he even mentioned paying for my passage to Zambia for business purposes. What did I have to lose, he was going to pick up the tab.
The trip was to take place in a few months soI began to make plans and applied for a passport. When I applied for the passport, the birth certificate I had wasn’t the correct one. I didn’t realize the hospital birth certificate wasn’t a legal document ,so first off, I had to apply for a new birth certificate from the county health department.
Upon receiving the correct birth certificate, I noticed my first name was spelled differently than the way I had been spelling it all my life. My name was spelled Garald on the birth certificate and I had been spelling it Gerald all these years. The funny part about it, people had always called me Garald instead of Gerald. Quite a revelation.
Evidently the doctor had written it down wrong at my birth,and my parents weren’t even aware of the error. The original birth certificate couldn't be changed so we decided to make my passport match my drivers license as no one in customs was going to see my birth certificate anyway.
As things progressed, many unseen circumstances prevented me from traveling to Zambia. The adventure was all but forgotten.
Two years had gone by and as I sat reading the morning paper the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a travel ad caught my eye. A group trip was being planned for the two weeks after Christmas to Egypt , it was leaving on December 26th., only five weeks away, the price was fantastic.
I had some time off after Christmas and so far had no plans. I realized this would be perfect! There isn’t much to do in Indiana this time of year, the weather is cold and snowy, it would be a good time to travel to a warmer climate. I had been wondering whatever possessed me to take a vacation at this time of year, now I had my answer.
I immediately called and made a reservation, I was on my way to the land of the Pharaoh. The next five weeks flew by, being extremely busy with my work I had little time to think about the trip.
As the time approached, I suddenly realized, it takes at least six weeks to apply for and receive a passport, if I hadn't gotten a passport when I was thinking of going to Zambia, this trip would never have materialized and I would have missed one of the great adventures of my life.
When life throws you a curve ball, either duck or swing at it, get back up and be prepared for a fast ball right down the middle. You will then be able to hit it out of the park.
Now you can follow me on Kindle.
Design your own photo gifts, your photo or mine.
This was the case in 1984, I had replied to an ad in Outdoor Photography. A man living in Zambia was needing to communicate with someone in the states ,film processing was difficult there and he needed someone to process film for him. I replied, as it sounded like a lucrative business proposition, he even mentioned paying for my passage to Zambia for business purposes. What did I have to lose, he was going to pick up the tab.
The trip was to take place in a few months soI began to make plans and applied for a passport. When I applied for the passport, the birth certificate I had wasn’t the correct one. I didn’t realize the hospital birth certificate wasn’t a legal document ,so first off, I had to apply for a new birth certificate from the county health department.
Upon receiving the correct birth certificate, I noticed my first name was spelled differently than the way I had been spelling it all my life. My name was spelled Garald on the birth certificate and I had been spelling it Gerald all these years. The funny part about it, people had always called me Garald instead of Gerald. Quite a revelation.
Evidently the doctor had written it down wrong at my birth,and my parents weren’t even aware of the error. The original birth certificate couldn't be changed so we decided to make my passport match my drivers license as no one in customs was going to see my birth certificate anyway.
As things progressed, many unseen circumstances prevented me from traveling to Zambia. The adventure was all but forgotten.
Two years had gone by and as I sat reading the morning paper the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a travel ad caught my eye. A group trip was being planned for the two weeks after Christmas to Egypt , it was leaving on December 26th., only five weeks away, the price was fantastic.
I had some time off after Christmas and so far had no plans. I realized this would be perfect! There isn’t much to do in Indiana this time of year, the weather is cold and snowy, it would be a good time to travel to a warmer climate. I had been wondering whatever possessed me to take a vacation at this time of year, now I had my answer.
I immediately called and made a reservation, I was on my way to the land of the Pharaoh. The next five weeks flew by, being extremely busy with my work I had little time to think about the trip.
As the time approached, I suddenly realized, it takes at least six weeks to apply for and receive a passport, if I hadn't gotten a passport when I was thinking of going to Zambia, this trip would never have materialized and I would have missed one of the great adventures of my life.
When life throws you a curve ball, either duck or swing at it, get back up and be prepared for a fast ball right down the middle. You will then be able to hit it out of the park.
Now you can follow me on Kindle.
Design your own photo gifts, your photo or mine.
Posted by The Florida Hoosier at 9/7/2011 7:59 AM 
Categories: Spiritual Growth
Tags: ancient Egypt divine plan reality self discovery spiritual growth vision Quest
Categories: Spiritual Growth
Tags: ancient Egypt divine plan reality self discovery spiritual growth vision Quest
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