Less Familiar Road

We had a really bad thunderstorm yesterday during the middle of the day. The rain was pouring, flags were nearly torn off poles, and debris was scattered on the streets. Several businesses, homes and traffic lights lost power.

I was volunteering at the time when the storm hit and thought it was in my best interest to stay at the volunteer center and wait out the storm. Thankfully the downpour only lasted for maybe an hour, so I was able to head home after the winds and rain calmed down.

The route that I usually take home from there involves crossing a one-lane bridge. As I turned onto the street that would lead me to the bridge, there was a man standing next to his car parked on the side of the road. He was waving his arms, and my first thought was that something was wrong with his vehicle. Being a teenage female and one who is totally ignorant when it comes to cars, I opted not to stop and help him out, hoping that some other kind stranger would soon pull off. 

But as I slowed down and prepared to pass him, he waved his arms even more wildly and started shouting, "Woah! Stop! Don't go any further!"

Must be something pretty important, so it seemed. I rolled down my window, trusting the guy and praying I didn't just get myself into something stupid.

"Turn around," he said. "There's a tree that's fallen over the bridge, happened during the storm. You'll have to go another way."

I'm sure that man wasn't the first to encounter the roadblock, but was the only person who stuck around to warn other drivers about the dead-end.

I thanked him for what he was doing and went on my way. Home was my destination, I just had to take another path to get there.

As Christians, Heaven is our finish line. One day we will call it "home" and ourselves, "dwellers." I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get there. I mean, I can... but just the thought gets me so excited.

We have our time here on Earth to find the staircase to those golden gates. And the only way to get Home is through Jesus. Sometimes, He purposely allows trees to fall and block roads in our lives so that He can direct us elsewhere. The path we then find ourselves traveling might be longer but necessary to better know Him and reserve our spot in His kingdom. 

God has made a lot of detours in my life. There's always frustration in the fact that my fastest, easiest way home had been eliminated. But inevitably there comes a greater reward, that is the shelter He provides and the lessons He teaches as we journey along the less familiar road.

The Bible speaks a lot about God watching over us in this life:

"You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory."    Psalm 73:24

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."    Proverbs 16:9

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."    Proverbs 3:6

You never know about strangers. They could be an angel in disguise, or they could be someone else God is using to get your attention. 

Will you pull off?

-Rachel