Which Way?

I'm directionally challenged. I know this, and try to do my very best to get where I need to go in a prompt and timely manner without anyone being any the wiser. This is difficult, if not impossible, when traveling in an unfamiliar city where there are detours and one-way streets with redundant names.

You've probably already guessed that I'm going to report that my cover has been blown. Oh, yeah! While at Synod Assembly this past weekend I became hopelessly lost on my way back to my motel room. It became apparent how dire the situation had become when I received multiple phone calls inquiring as to my whereabouts from those with whom I was traveling. Let me provide some background:

At lunch that same day I had a conversation with one of my Pastors about my penchant for list making and scheduling. I do this daily and I'm very good at it. It's both a blessing and a curse. As much as I like being productive and timely I am, conversely, thrown into a tail spin if something unexpectedly interrupts my plan for the day and puts me behind. I know that this is my cross to bear. We talked together at some length about how I might be able to adopt more flexibility in this area. The old "let go and let God" motto came to mind. I decided to pray about it and be more deliberately mindful of this affliction of mine, we left the cafeteria together to attend the afternoon meetings and forums. Only hours later I found myself driving in circles, literally. I wasn't only interrupting my own schedule now but those of the people waiting on me for dinner, including both of my Pastors! There was a new, heightened, sense of frantic urgency about my situation when I thought about disrupting the plans of others and throwing them behind, too! I made a few more attempts to find my own way and realized I was passing the same buildings and intersections, wasting precious time. I found a drug store and pulled my car into a parking slot. I went inside and asked for directions. The pharmacist drew me a map, I was close, very close, to my motel after all! In no time, after asking for help and consulting my directions I was back "home". Naturally, I was on the receiving end of some good-hearted ribbing at dinner. I expected that. What surprised me though, was God's rapid-fire response to my hurried prayer only hours earlier with an object lesson on flexibility, and asking for assistance, that I won't soon forget. Knowing one's own limitations is eye-opening, being stubborn and attempting to self-improve without surrendering to God's help is like running full-tilt, aimlessly, in circles. It is through grace; His grace alone, that I'm back on track. What can God do for you today?

..."Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
I once was lost but now am found..."

Life is Good!