Detours

It is late Spring and road construction season is upon us. Whether it is major routes closed for the long haul, shifts, or short term projects, you can’t get anywhere without facing the construction and the detours that go with them.

At the beginning of June I was visiting family in Northern Wisconsin. There are some pretty major routes closed down and many detours to follow. I couldn’t navigate without those detour signs or repeat any of the routes I did because I honestly had no clue where I was going, just where I wanted to be.

I noticed some things about the various times out and around town. Some people don’t like the construction and the detours, complaining about it or getting anxious or frustrated trying to come up with a new plan quickly. Others just keep on keeping on, going about their way and not treating it as an inconvenience and planning that their route is going to take a little longer. And yet others are like, well there is construction we will find our way or follow the detour signs, making adjusts as they need to and turning off the route when it doesn’t head to the destination.

I followed the signs, made adjustments when I needed to get to where I wanted to be. I wasn’t phased by it and went at it with the mindset of follow the signs as long needed and we will get there. I also planned that our route to and from home would take a little longer.

As we were driving on of the detour routes I began to think about how this relates a lot to our journey we are on in life, as a whole. There are many construction interruptions along the way. Some are longer stretches and some are short. Some happen frequently and some are spaced out. All along the way there are detours that we are taken on, an alternate path before we can join back up to the main route. Yet, not all the detours are planned or do we want to face them. These are the ones that push us out of our comfort zone. Sometimes a little, sometimes way out.

But you see, while they seem unplanned to us, God has the plan and He knows the plan He has for each of us. There is a reason for it, even when it is unexpected or you can see it coming from a mile away.

How do you respond when you are in a construction season on your path? How about when there are detours to help guide your way?

I know in the past sometimes I would get frustrated or even irritated. Because I am a planner by nature, I leave some margin, but sometimes it wasn’t enough. It was something I thought I could control, but really I couldn’t. All I could control was my thoughts and responses.

However, as time goes by, I am learning to shift my mindset. I am learning to plan and prepare, but then allow for flexibility. I can’t predict the next construction season, nor can I plan out the detour always. But I can plan and prepare, then be ready to shift. Is it always an easy or automatic process? Nope, and I still get hung up and still need reminders.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NIV

We may not like the detour, we may not want to be in a construction season, but God knows what is best for us. We can have faith in those moments, we can trust with all our heart. We will get there when the timing is right. All along the way there is much to learn and see.

As you go into your next construction season I pray that you have an open heart and trust in God to guide you, to lead you on a detour that is needed, and all along the way you let your eyes open to the possibilities that can come from it.

(Detour Sign not my own photo, downloaded the image off of Google.)