NEW ROADS

It sure was a long time coming! For months, we had suffered from detours and delays. Traffic was often backed up so badly along the construction site that I began avoiding the area altogether when possible. Sometimes the congestion was so bad that I wished they had never attempted to “improve” the roads in the area. Then after having endured lane closures, work zones, and long, long delays for what felt like forever, I found myself this morning coasting along on a beautiful new stretch of smooth tarmac. I was so excited.

Isn’t life like that? We get used to our regular routes and ruts. Even though they’re a little problematic, they’re also comfortably familiar. We swerve around the potholes and think nothing of it. Then we get annoyed with somebody who isn’t familiar with our well-worn route and doesn’t know how to navigate it. Finally, we see the big machines and yellow cones and realize it’s time for a change, and that improvement—perhaps long overdue—is about to happen.

Just like the Department of Transportation’s road improvements, God’s work in our lives doesn’t just happen overnight. Whether it’s time for a widening, a little resurfacing, or an entirely new stretch, it takes a lot of courage to allow Him to lead us someplace new.

Often, the preparation seems like it will last forever. Then the day finally comes and you’re really on your way. A few twists and turns and you just seem to sail along to the place God has prepared for you. Gone are the ruts, the bumps and holes, the delays! It may take a little time to get used to the new road, but it is so worthwhile.

As we approach the start of any new project—or even if we’re not there yet, but we’re still at the stage of considering our options—it is good to think about new roads. Is God doing something new? Do those delays that test our patience so much mean something really smooth is just about ready to roll out?

Let’s face the future with excitement and anticipation. Rather than lament the old roads, or bemoan the hassle the changes are bringing, let’s fix our focus on what’s ahead. Life has ups and downs, stops and starts, but eventually we’ll find ourselves once again happily sailing along on the open road of God’s plan for our lives.
I had just moved to Winnipeg, Canada, and the Internet connection at my apartment had yet to be installed, so I was on my way to a nearby café to get online and do some work.

Halfway there, I suddenly wondered if I had remembered to take my wallet and stopped to check my backpack. At that instant I felt a blow against my ankle, and I spun around to see who was “attacking” me.

Imagine my surprise when I was met by a pleasant-faced blind man, white cane in hand, apologizing profusely. Under these circumstances, it was hard to be angry. The man said a few more words and continued down the street.

I had forgotten my wallet and went back to my apartment to retrieve it. On my way, I reflected on this odd little encounter. It wasn’t the part where I got rapped on the ankle that had left an impression, but the image of this blind man striding confidently down the street.

I started thinking about my own life and current situation. I had recently moved to a new city, away from all my close friends and the colleagues I’d worked with for years and was still learning my way around. I needed to find a new job, but wasn’t even sure what sort of job I wanted. I also needed to make several other related timely decisions. Could I manage both work and university? If not, which should I focus on? What should my financial priorities be? And how could I sync those with my long-term goals? On some questions, I didn’t even know where to start.

Being at the beginning of something new was exciting but also unsettling. Questions seemed to be more plentiful than answers.

In my mind’s eye, I saw the blind man navigating the streets of downtown Winnipeg, unable to see where he was going, but going nonetheless—and doing so with confidence. If he can figure it out and find his way around, I told myself, I can too!

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2 Peter 1:21 ESV / For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Romans 9:1-33 ESV / I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. …