God Doesn’t Do Kansas Roads

A few years ago, my family traveled to Colorado for vacation. From our home in Illinois, it took us about 22 hours to reach Breckenridge, the pretty mountain town that was our destination. A good chunk of that time was spent on a stretch of road straight west through Kansas.

And when I say straight, I mean straight.

The road stretched to the horizon for miles ahead and miles behind, surrounded only by wind-blasted plains studded with wind turbines.

As I’m uncomfortable driving in the big, scary city, I drove this road. It was the most mind-numbing driving I’ve ever done, but at least there were no surprises.

In the distance, the Rocky Mountains gradually came into view. At first, they appeared as nothing more than shadowy, jagged edges on the horizon. But after many hours, their snowy peaks rose into full view, crisply defined against a cobalt sky.

I live in a place of stretching roads and 360-degree views, but I had never seen such a thing. To see one’s destination emerge over the course of hours was both disconcerting and reassuring.

Sometimes, I wish God worked that way. Some days, I’d like him to plunk me down at the start of a long, curveless road, so that I could see everything headed my way. No surprises, no unscheduled stops, and definitely no accidents.

But it seems that God prefers lots of bends in the road. At times, I don’t even feel like I’m driving. Instead, God unfurls the road in front of me as I travel on.

---

Recently, I’d been half-heartedly praying about a way to draw more income with freelance writing. I couldn’t see how that would happen, as I wasn’t able to invest time in finding a market for my work. Then I received an email with an offer from a writer friend who is retiring: would I like to write the copy for a nearby city’s hospital newsletter? The writing would be simple and mostly doable from home, and it would be months before my first deadline. For the amount of sweat equity, the money would be quite good.

Would I like to do it? Yes, thanks.

Of course, not all bends in the road are so materially profitable. But as God lays them before us, he sees that they are all for our good, and for his glory.

What have been some bends in your road lately? I always appreciate your thoughtful comments.

---

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. – Psalm 32:8

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5,6

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. – Jeremiah 33:3