Shortcuts
I would have been on time if the traffic lights and the fellow travelers would have shown me favor at every bend of the road. When I came upon a pending yellow light, I quickly decided to take a shortcut. Through the parking lot of the corner convenience store I darted. By the time I wove through the parking lot and around the cars getting gas, and waited to turn back on to the highway, instead of being ahead, I got to watch the cars who were originally behind me whiz right on by as I was still waiting to get out of the parking lot.
One of my goals in life is to get ahead. Hence, I am always looking for a better way to get to my destination. Honey Buns (my gps) is supposed to get me there by the quickest route, but I don’t always agree with her reasoning. Sometimes I wonder what in the world she’s thinking? And so often, I decide that I can devise a quicker route and will detour from the given directions in order to find that elusive shortcut.In His graciousness, the Lord spoke to me the morning I was sitting in the parking lot watching all of my patient fellow drivers pass me by.Shortcuts, He reminded me, are not always the best route.Some days will require the lessons learned along the path of most resistance. There will be things that God longs to impart to us that cannot be acquired by taking a short cut.There is unique beauty along the route that He has chosen. In my quest to get ahead and get there quicker, I wonder what of His added glory and majesty I miss when I blindly choose my own path over His.Occasionally I am convicted of praying prayers of “escape” for myself and for others. In our humanity, we cry out for the pain to be taken away and for the suffering to cease. “But, Lord”, I reason, “I’m pretty sure I can learn this lesson an easier way. Isn’t there a shortcut that will take me to the same final destination?”I am learning to trust His direction for my journey. When I’m tempted to go to the left or the right, I want to continue down the path He has chosen. I want to trust that He has a plan and a purpose and even though my way may be shorter, it may not be the best. I want to trust Him for the best.
This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. Isaiah 6.16PS - How ironic that today as I was leaving work I thoughtlessly decided to try another shortcut. I'd seen it on the map, and it looked like it would take less time. As I turned onto the new road, I quickly discovered that there were obnoxious speed bumps every fifty feet AND I ended up behind a school bus that stopped in between the speed bumps. And I just had to laugh. And remember that shortcuts are not always the best way to go!
One of my goals in life is to get ahead. Hence, I am always looking for a better way to get to my destination. Honey Buns (my gps) is supposed to get me there by the quickest route, but I don’t always agree with her reasoning. Sometimes I wonder what in the world she’s thinking? And so often, I decide that I can devise a quicker route and will detour from the given directions in order to find that elusive shortcut.In His graciousness, the Lord spoke to me the morning I was sitting in the parking lot watching all of my patient fellow drivers pass me by.Shortcuts, He reminded me, are not always the best route.Some days will require the lessons learned along the path of most resistance. There will be things that God longs to impart to us that cannot be acquired by taking a short cut.There is unique beauty along the route that He has chosen. In my quest to get ahead and get there quicker, I wonder what of His added glory and majesty I miss when I blindly choose my own path over His.Occasionally I am convicted of praying prayers of “escape” for myself and for others. In our humanity, we cry out for the pain to be taken away and for the suffering to cease. “But, Lord”, I reason, “I’m pretty sure I can learn this lesson an easier way. Isn’t there a shortcut that will take me to the same final destination?”I am learning to trust His direction for my journey. When I’m tempted to go to the left or the right, I want to continue down the path He has chosen. I want to trust that He has a plan and a purpose and even though my way may be shorter, it may not be the best. I want to trust Him for the best.This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. Isaiah 6.16PS - How ironic that today as I was leaving work I thoughtlessly decided to try another shortcut. I'd seen it on the map, and it looked like it would take less time. As I turned onto the new road, I quickly discovered that there were obnoxious speed bumps every fifty feet AND I ended up behind a school bus that stopped in between the speed bumps. And I just had to laugh. And remember that shortcuts are not always the best way to go!