Road Trip

"Howard, I'm afraid for you to do that!" I protested. He was about to follow the example of other drivers that had pulled off the road, driven down into the grassy slope of the neutral ground, and up to the west-bound lane of the intersection, going the opposite direction to escape our traffic tie-up.

We had already seen a passenger from the car ahead of us get out and talk to the trucker in the next lane. Then Howard approached him and had a conversation before getting back into our car. The trucker had given them directions, and just as we were about to follow suit, I shouted, "Wait! The traffic is moving!"

Thank God! We'd been sitting there probably 20 minutes. Now the traffic clog dissipated quickly. We felt for those who were on the alternate road, probably bogged down with cars. "I think God prevented us from pulling off," Howard said, and I agreed. What if we'd gotten stuck, trying to maneuver up the opposite slope? Our 10-year-old car may not have had the spunk of the newer ones that succeeded in their attempt.

This had happened to us once before on this very road, and we'd had to detour and spend the night before getting back on our route. "I think this is the "Bermuda Triangle" of the highway!" I exclaimed of this busy, truck-packed approach to Memphis. Passing the endless, mostly truck-filled line stalled on the other side caused me to remark, "We are a nation of trucks." They looked like a long train, interspersed by the occasional automobile.

Even though we had a GPS, we had to acknowledge it was God who was getting us safely through this 700+ mile trip. Our first nightmare was navigating through Tulsa, which would have been fine, except we missed one marker on a detour route through the city. We found ourselves driving through a residential neighborhood as we searched for our route. Howard stopped and asked directions of a man at a service station, who evidently had misunderstood, telling us I-40 was just 5 miles ahead. Turned out it was I-44. Thankfully, we got proper directions from the next informant and breathed a sigh of relief when the city was behind us.

The Lord guided us safely through the multi-lane Nashville traffic, and the rest of our trip was uneventful, leaving us to admire the beautiful mountains all around us. I am only now discovering that some things are coming up missing. I must have left my good sandals at the motel. I wore tennis shoes for the trip, but got out the sandals to avoid walking barefoot on the motel carpet.

Getting hungry yesterday, I looked for a couple of bananas I had put in a zip-lock bag to bring, but evidently I left them home on the counter. And where were my spare reading glasses? And now my favorite comb is missing. Travel is so distracting! But these are minor details when we consider the big picture, our safe arrival and seeing loved ones!

Road trips are a lot like life. There are obstacles and inconveniences along the way, but somehow or through Somebody we get through the struggles, and with a sense of achievement and thanksgiving. He'll be there to guide us to the end of the way!