It Happens!

Okay...i admit it...i tried to get this blog thing going a couple of years ago and it didn't take off.

Obviously!!

I have been wanting to write about this for sometime, but clearly I have not MADE the time to do it. We as humans MAKE time for what we WANT to do, even if it is being lazy and watching tv, but that is another topic for another time!

On the weekend of January 25 I took off from the icy roads of Kentucky to attend one of my best dear friend's mother's Memorial service in "Sweet Home Alabama" (yes I did sing it while I typed it!). It was a great, but whirlwind trip!! On my way I was very fortunate to only run into two icy spots here in KY, and made the rest of the trip without a hitch (well...almost). On my way, I had a great time listening and singing music. For those of you who know me well, you know I LOVE to sing, but have serious stage fright! I am confessing this to you and working on repentance!

Anyway, I was on my way to this beautiful place called Gorham's Bluff and by the time I got to Alabama I was in the dark! Here's the thing; Alabama county roads are not labeled well AT ALL!! They do not have "street signs" at the corners of streets like most places have; but they have signs which are UK blue (I think it is funny for Alabama to have UK colored signs...just sayin') and have "County Road 457" printed on them in bright yellow. These signs are VERY hard to read when you are going 55 and it is dark, rainy, and foggy! So I was following printed directions as a back up because cell service in that part of Alabama is almost non existent...therefore no GPS signal for the phone! I was driving along and came to this long stretch of straight road and hit a hill going about 55 mph. By the time i got to the bottom of the hill of said straight stretch (no curves) of road the music was blaring (It Happens by Sugarland was playing) and my foot was soo heavy that I was going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. Well...It Happened alright! Blue lights in the rear view! oops!

The officer (who was cute by the way) asked me where I was going in such a hurry. I replied " To be honest I have no idea..I am supposed to be going out in the middle of nowhere to Gorham's Bluff in Pisgah." He said "Yeah, I know it." and then "Do you know what the speed limit is through here?" I answered and said, "The last sign I saw said 55, so I thought that was the speed limit." He said, "It is 55, but you were going 70!! Let me see your license and insurance card. Sit tight and I will be right back" So he was gone for about 5 minutes and I used the opportunity to review my printed directions again so that I could keep my eyes on the road and the speedometer a little more closely. When he came back he said " I just gave you a warning so that you don't have to come and appear in court...slow down and take your time. I will give you a short cut!" I was VERY thankful to just get a warning, a short cut,and some eye candy for that night!

After the long weekend I was reflecting back; I was VERY thankful for the provisions given to me by God. The provisions are as follows: traveling mercies, a warning INSTEAD of a ticket, safe roads, a car that runs and is reliable, money to be able to go, friends that I love and that they love me (which I consider family). I know there are many that I did not list, but i only have a little amount of time as I am writing this post on my lunch break!

There are so many ways to apply these happenings to my life. I like to keep it simple...so here is one way it applies. We all are heading to a destination, to a place, a home. There are MANY things that distract us from getting there. Life is the biggest distraction...well, all that comes with it! It gets hard to keep your way mapped and straight..even with directions!! Then you add darkness, our own sins and selfish desires, and it becomes almost impossible to navigate and you can't do it...you're just human. We all need a Savior to do it for us...that Savior is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World that removes darkness. By putting your trust and faith in Him, following Him, reading His Word (that's our printed directions), HE will carry us home to spend eternity with Him!! That is the best news I have heard all day!

Well..time to get back to the grind. I will post again soon about the memorial service when I have more time! We'll talk again soon!