Making Plans

There is a small, desolate island off the tip of Door County in Wisconsin.  It is called Rock Island and is accessible by a ferry for those wishing to visit the island.  The ferry is only limited to carrying people and runs a tight schedule during the day.  Most visitors come to hike; however, there are a few places where camping is allowed.  Campers are without electricity, running water or access to civilization.  Since the ferry only runs during the day, campers are stranded on the island for the night.  To camp on Rock Island is to experience “real camping” as some would say.

I decided to take three of my children camping there for four days.  At the time, they were quite young (twelve and under).  I thought it would be a great way to spend time with their father and bond in a unique environment.  It would take a lot of planning to make sure our experience was positive.  Each meal would need to be planned so every ingredient could be purchased and carried to the island.  Since we would only have what we brought, I planned and packed carefully.

On the first morning there, I discovered that I had forgotten the eggs.  Since two of my planned breakfasts called for eggs, I quickly made a different breakfast, but quietly worried about what I would do for the other mornings.  We ate, cleaned up and went hiking for the day.

We returned later in the day to our campsite and found a young woman standing there with a carton of eggs.

“We are getting ready to leave.  We had some eggs left over and thought that you might like them,” she said.

Gratefully, I took the eggs with a quiet prayer of thanks.   

Even the best laid plans cannot account for every future detail.  Our plans chart a course that will encounter the unexpected.  Our confident steps into the unknown future rests in the hands of our Lord.  Making plans is a step of faith.  Our plans provide opportunities to see the results of our faith.  Receiving the carton of eggs, just when they were needed on a remote island, is an example of this.

Today, we are sending out our fall re-opening plans.  These plans are the result of a lot of hard work.  We have been meeting since last April to discuss the best way we can meet the needs of our families.  We have partnered with medical professionals to help guide us.  We have shared and discussed plans with other schools to make sure we considered every option.  Our staff has remained resolute and dedicated throughout the process.  I am proud of the work our staff has done.  Every step combined safety with the educational needs of our students.  I am confident we are going to have a great school year.

We are taking confident steps of faith into this school year.  We have diligently planned and invested resources to develop this plan.  As with every school year, we will step confidently forward with our plan in hand while our faith rests in God.  I ask that you continually remember our faculty, staff, and students as we move into an exciting school year.