Our recent trip to Glacier National Park did not go as planned. My brother-in-law had meticulously planned this family reunion for the past year. The dates, lodging and car rentals were set in November 2017. Flights reserved in January. Camping permit okayed in March. But the week of the trip, the park alerted visitors of forest fires spreading, causing road and trail closures.

Because of these closures, we were forced to drive around the perimeter of the park to the east side. This caused a 1 1/2-hour drive delay and rescheduling of some hikes.

When my husband and I looked ahead to the weather, the app forecasted mid- to lower 80s cooling off to the 70s later in the week. But we were not prepared for 40-degree mornings, whipping winds, and rain. (It snowed in the upper elevations the day we left!)

I didn’t plan on getting altitude sickness up at the Continental Divide on the fifth day of the trip.

We didn’t expect severe weather in Minneapolis-St. Paul, causing our connecting flight to be delayed and not returning home until after midnight.

All this planning. All these hiccups. Plan A was scrapped for Plan B.

Our group adapted. We still experienced much of the park. As we hiked and drove, I discovered life lessons in our Plan B.

People are more important than plans. Instead of bemoaning what didn’t happen, we focused on who was there. We were with my nieces and nephew who I rarely see. My oldest daughter, who lives in another state, joined our group. I could talk to them, catch up and re-connect. Cell service was spotty so we talked eye-to-eye. No beeping texts, no earbuds, or scrolling through social media. Just old-fashioned face time.

Focus on the present. While smoke obscured some views, others helped me see things I would otherwise have missed. I tasted thimbleberry for the first time (similar to a raspberry), as well as huckleberry (looks like a blueberry). We even feasted on huckleberry pie one night. (During the month of August in Montana, you can find anything huckleberry from margarita mix to coffee!) We spied a black bear lumber across the road. We watched a weasel scurry around a visitor center. We learned that a marmot is not only an expensive name-brand jacket but a large rodent which can chew your hiking boots. (Campers beware!)

Stop and look for God moments. Glacier National Park displayed evidence of His handprints everywhere. Many times, however, my eyes were glued to the trail. I had to remind myself to stop, look up, and take in the undeveloped, unspoiled vistas. Around every bend, ledge, and clearing, another glorious sight appeared.

The night before we left it rained. The next morning we could clearly see the mountain out the large windows of our cabin. Previously, the peak loomed like a dim shadow. But that morning, the mountain was in focus. Like a giant eraser, the rain had wiped away the smoke.

Many times, life’s hiccups reveal our plans as a dim shadow of God’s.

When this happens, take a deep breath and seek God. Commit your plans to Him (Psalm 37:5). Maybe, just maybe He wants to make things clearer to you. Or maybe to make Him clearer.