For the next month, I must find alternate routes to the church from my house, because the quickest way has a section that is closed for construction. There are no truly direct routes, but this was the best of what there is, and now I cannot use it.
Ordinarily, I don’t mind taking alternate routes, detours while on vacation have proven to be ways to find places to see or eat that I never would have known existed. But when going to work, I just want the quickest route. This is not an excursion, after all, it is a purposeful trip and there are time constraints. But I have observed a few things about myself when it comes to change that is imposed upon me.
The first few days, I kept forgetting that I could not go the usual way I had travel daily for the past 8 years. My brain (and my faithful car) were wired to go this specific route. I found myself already on the established route when I would remember and have to figure out how to redirect myself. No, I do not own a GPS- I do not need any other weird voices talking to me! But it was hard for me to own that a change was needed. My natural inclination was to go the same way I had always gone.
Now that I am adjusted to this, I have found myself learning more about parts of my community that I had not noticed before. New businesses, interesting landscaping, the daily habits of neighbors I did not see regularly before. On my regular route I had come to recognize who else might be on the road when I was. Now I am noticing new fellow commuters. I am becoming familiar with a whole new panorama as I drive. I find that I actually ENJOY this route, even if it does take a few more minutes.
Change in our lives is seldom welcome. Interruptions in our routines can set us off balance. But imagine what we miss if we never go down new roads? Imagine the people we will never know if we don’t step out of our circle to extend a hand to a stranger? Think of how we are depriving ourselves of the fullness of life if we refuse to try new things?
Maybe tomorrow I will venture down another “alternate route”!
Walking in faith with you,
Pastor Kathy