Driving Blind

Did you ever drive through fog?

Like really dense fog that you couldn't see but a few yards ahead of you? I'm not talking about a little fog. A mist or slight haze. I'm talking about the kind of fog where you knew you were driving through a cloud, but wondered, "Why is this cloud on the road and not in the sky where it belongs?". 

Or what about when the sun blinds you and, again, you are taking your life in your hands by not pulling right into the next McDonald's you see and waiting it out with a shake and fries? That beautiful sun that you so desperately want to sit under instead of being cooped up inside all day. The same sun that you love so dearly and makes those beautiful sunrises and sunsets every day suddenly seems to want to kill you.

This morning, I unfortunately encountered both.

I woke up feeling a bit discouraged. As much as I try to stay positive, sometimes life just hits me square in the face and all the things I know to be true seem to fade away and doubt and despair creep in. Honestly, I knew it wouldn't last, and I felt a little silly wasting time on feeling that way, but I couldn't seem to shake it. 

I had worked from 7am to 11pm the night before. On those late nights, I can't seem to settle down and just sleep, as exhausted as I am. So, I toss and turn, take out my phone, put it down, go to the bathroom a couple more times (thank you menapause), and then finally fall asleep by 1:30am. When my alarm goes off at 6am to go to work again, I rethink my life choices over in my head. But no time for that. Got to run or I'll be late!

I began driving, and as soon as I hit the highway, there it was. Fog. I hate fog. To be honest, I hate driving in any and all but perfect weather conditions. 

1. Fog
2. Rain
3. Snow
4. Sleet
5. Wind
6. Dark

Unless it is a sunny day with no ice, snow, or precipitation of any kind on the ground or in the air, I prefer not to be on the roads. So this did not sit well with me. Nor did it improve my already bad attitude that carried over from last night. But then something happened.

I drove under a bridge.

Oh no. Not over a bridge, giving me a message from God that He is going to lift me out of my troubles, as I drive over the bridge with my cares and worries under me, but under. Under. Where the cares and worries loomed overhead. I was not going to avoid them. God was not going to lift me above them. God was going to have my troubles stay right where they were. Right on top of me. 

As soon as I drove under that bridge, the sky was clear. I still had my unfortunate circumstances that burdened my heart, but the road seemed clearer now. I suddenly could see exactly where I was going.  

For a minute.

I made one right turn and then Bam! There it was. The sun! It felt in that moment that that was just about the brightest sun I had ever seen in all my life. Again, I couldn't see where I was going. But it hit me. I couldn't look away from the sun because the sun was directly in front of me. So I had to keep my eyes right where I was going. When I came to a stop and looked right, I could see clearly that there were no cars. It was safe. But I wasn't going that way. I was making a left turn. Right into the sun. It was terrifying. I couldn't see anything that might be coming my way. 

1. Was it clear?
2. Was there a tractor-trailer coming 50 mph towards me?
3. Was it safe to proceed?
4. Would I make it through the intersection without an onlooker having to call 911?

It was anyone's guess. So if I wanted to get to work anytime soon, I had to just look straight towards the sun, have faith, and go! 

Isn't that just like life?

Sometimes we can't see what lies ahead. It may be just a few feet or miles away, but it's there. The future that we look forward to, and the future that we dread. It's all there, and it's coming whether we like it or not. 

At times, the road is bumpy, filled with potholes and detours. Other times it's smooth sailing. A leisurely Sunday drive, enjoying the sights and relaxing. Today was the latter for me. It didn't start out very smoothly or relaxing. At all. But as I drove under that bridge, emerging from the fog and into the clear blue sky, it was reminiscent of the black and white beginning of the classic movie, in which Dorothy woke up and entered the colorful Land of Oz. I had hope. Hope for the day. Hope for the future. 

Just as in life, the only way to get through difficult situations, when we can't see past our next step, is to look toward the Son. As long as we do that, we don't need to know what lies ahead. He's already there. And friends, Who better to follow when we feel lost and scared? I may not know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future. And that is enough for me. If we just keep looking toward the Son, we will certainly live happily ever after, after. After the fog lifts, and we can see the sunshine. 

Trust the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
and He will direct your path.

Proverbs 3:5-6