Messes

Seventy miles per hour, music playing, my mind is elsewhere.  

 I went to the gym earlier that day, and now I am coming home from brunch with my friend. My heart is full; it is a fantastic morning. I begin to think about what my afternoon will look like, making a silent checklist—and then suddenly—a pallet in the middle of the road!  

 I quickly check around me and swerve. Oh no! Another pallet. Broken pieces of wood scattered up and down the road.  Swerve, brake, swerve, switch lanes—all while carefully watching the traffic. Then, checking the mirror, I notice that the guy behind me is following my lead. We both expertly swerve around shards of wood, broken and whole pallets, until it finally appears that we were free. 

Another mile or so up the road, an old rusty blue truck is pulled over to the side.  The man standing next to it is trying to tie down about sixty pallets with two big straps. Unfortunately, he did not have the right kind of vehicle or suitable straps to make it work.   

I say a prayer as I zoom by. Then I begin to think.  

Sometimes I can be like that truck. If I AM not secure—then all the things I carry and the things I should not have can uncontrollably fly off and bounce down the road. If I hit the slightest bump, those pallets—those unsecured THINGS—can fly and destroy themselves and put everything else in danger.

Even though my only intentions that morning had been to transport my stuff—those shards—when I hit the slightest bump—can bust off, fall apart, and hurt everyone who is coming up behind me while I keep driving because I cannot see beyond my stuff. I don’t even know it’s falling off. I have no idea the damage I am leaving behind because I cannot see behind me.   

 Sometimes when we are going through life—we come upon unexpected pallets and shards and messes, and we get to decide each time—in each moment—whether to swerve or to hit the brake. 

If we take time to find the pain source and navigate each road separately, we have a fantastic opportunity. We get to stop alongside the road and help our brothers and sisters feel secure.  We assist them in unloading, reloading and gently teach them how to leave the excess behind and secure the right pieces into place. 

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are then able to give them what they need at that moment to help transport them from their ‘here’ to their ‘there’ to their ‘next place.’ That’s siblinghood, and it can be the most beautiful thing in the world if handled with care.

And what about the guy behind me? Ah, a lesson there too. If we stay close to good, healthy leadership--If we walk alongside people who watch and listen—they will help us steer clear of many heartaches on this road of life.  

 Who are you traveling with? Who are you following?   

Keep driving and keep going because our God is faithful!