Missing the Signs?
Yesterday afternoon as I headed out to run an errand, I was approaching the entrance ramp to I-64 at the college. As I got closer, slowed, and turned on my left turn signal to enter the ramp, I realized that a car was exiting the ramp blocking my way!
You know, sometimes when we see something unexpected happening, it takes a minute to register in our minds. My mind began to process the fact that the driver had apparently been traveling East bound in the West bound lane into oncoming traffic prior to exiting onto the on-ramp. I stopped and the driver did a fast and erratic U-turn in the middle of the road in front of me, looked at me to make sure I wasn’t going to pull out ahead of him and then proceeded back up the entrance ramp. As I followed and entered I-64 West, he was moving fast, passing everything ahead.
My thoughts were racing? What on earth was he thinking? How and where did he get onto the wrong side of the interstate? Had I been a few seconds earlier, I would have met him mid ramp or encountered him approaching me at a high rate of speed on the highway!
I began to thank God for my protection as I completed my errands and returned home. However, this morning, I began to think about the fact that what ever the circumstances were that caused the other driver to take the wrong turn, God had also protected him and the many other drivers he met on the road yesterday.
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:1-6
How often in our travels do we encounter individuals heading in the wrong direction in their lives. Ignoring the signs along the way, taking wrong turns, and potentially causing harm to others? How often do we question why and how they got there?
How many of us have headed down those same dangerous roads and taken unnecessary detours? How many of us suddenly recognized the error of our ways and made a sudden U-turn before a catastrophe occurred?
God is always with us. Always blessing us. We don’t always see it! We say, “things just happen.” But nothing just happens!
It’s never too late to make a U-turn and change course. It’s never too late to say, Jesus, help me! It’s never too late to ask for and accept direction from the Holy Spirit.
Food for thought on this beautiful October morning!