Hello!
Earlier this week I had an appointment in Summerstrand. As the saying goes, you need a passport to get to that side of town because it’s so far away! I thought that I had left myself more than enough time to get to my appointment early, but in my normal fashion, I still left home way too late. It takes a minimum of half an hour normally to get to Summerstrand from my house, and I only had 20 minutes on the clock…
Getting to Summerstrand, I had two options, the beautiful but long Marine Drive, or the perilous Buffelsfontein/ Heugh Road. I normally take the scenic route to that side of town, taking in the vistas of the Marine Drive while simultaneously avoiding all the traffic of town. Having taken that route many times, I knew my car’s top speed (ignoring the conveniently concealed speed limit signs) would get me to Summerstrand with maybe two minutes to spare.
On the other hand, there was Buffelsfontein Road. With its taxis, pedestrians and numerous robots, this is never my first choice. On a good day, you can cross town in 20 minutes, but on a bad day, it’s more like 40. Adding to this, my family is cursed with Murphy’s Law when we are late: If there is a robot, it will turn red just before we get to it.
Coming up William Moffett, I had a choice: risk town or be guaranteed to only be a little late. Fortunately, with all the road works on William Moffett, I had plenty of time to pray, and think it through. When I got to the William Moffett/ Buffelsfontein intersection I realized it was actually a different decision I was making; take control or trust. I love the Marine Drive, because there are no stop signs or traffic. However long it takes you to get from one end of the road to the other, is entirely dependent on you. On the other hand, going through town is entirely dependent on the synchronization of robots and other drivers’ ability to obey the rules of the road. There I was praying for God to get me to the other side of town on time, but fully intending on going the route that would give me the most control over that happening.
So, against my better judgement, I went with Buffelsfontein. There are 11 robots on that route and every one of them was green. In the end, the thing that slowed me down the most was a herd of cows crossing the road! With a new personal record, the trip was only 15 minutes!
It seems like a silly thing, making a mountain out of deciding a route, but for someone who really struggles with not being in complete control of a situation, it was a test of trust. So often I will pray for God to help or guide, but I won’t give Him the reigns to make the changes He needs to.
The Old Testament lectionary readings over the last few weeks have been set in Numbers. Story after story of the Israelites praying for something, but not believing they will get it, and either coming up with their own plans or still doubting God when He answers their prayers. It can be easy to scorn the Israelites for their lack of faith, until I look at my own life and the small and large decisions that I prayed for God to help with, but never trusted Him with. I present my prayers to God, but don’t bother to look for His answer. Or I see the route He wants me to take and, “Nope!” turn in the opposite direction out of fear of the unknown.
It is not easy to trust God blindly, and it’s natural to doubt when we can’t see the logic in the next step. But I pray for each one of us, that in faith we would come to God with our decisions and problems, trusting in His guidance and take the Buffelsfontein Road that He wants us to take.
Much love in Christ
Heather P