Ruined Ruts

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” –Romans 8:28

Our home in the Netherlands formed a practically perfect triangle with the two military posts our family used the most while living there.. It took us about 20 minutes to get from any one point of the three to any other—most of the time. I was comfortable with that.

Six months after we moved there, though, the city closed the main road that led from one post to the other for an indefinite amount of time. Everyone who traveled from post to post had to find a detour.

(That’s right—in the Netherlands, and much of Europe, when they want to work on a road, or even a freeway, they close it down—not just a lane or two, but the whole road—and sometimes without warning! Once I went out shopping and came home to find my own street closed! Americans living in Europe must get used to this.)

A few months after that first road closure, while the road was still closed, the city also closed one of the main roads that led from our home to the first post. We had to learn another route to that destination, too.

And a week after that, my frustration boiled over when I started home from the second post. Getting there had been no problem, but the freeway on-ramp to return was gone! Missing! Bulldozed secretly in the night for total reconstruction and resident exasperation! And the detour to the next on-ramp turned out to be extensive. From that day on, for a time, it took about 30 minutes to get from any one point on our familiar, and now not-so-perfect, triangle to any other. What seemed worse though, was having to learn our way around all over again, just as if we’d just moved to town.

Was it worse, though? Eventually I decided to try different routes home from the two military posts. In doing so, I discovered a new shopping center, a beautiful tree-lined drive, and a few roads to go back to and explore on other days. The paths around my ruined ruts led to some happy surprises. City road reconstruction, in a way, was a good thing.

Father, please open my mind to alternatives. When it’s time to move, change, or rearrange, remind me that You’ve hidden treats for me to discover around every new curve. When I’m settled and content, remind me to venture into new territory once in a while. Adventure doesn’t have to hurt—especially when You’re the tour guide. Thank You for life’s shake-ups, Lord of Surprises. Amen.