What If God ...?
11-30-2020
By Brenda Pogue
When life gets busy, it is no wonder that time is of the essence. It is easy to get caught up in whirlwinds of to-do lists that grow ever longer each day. "Take a break." "Stop and smell the roses." Heeding the advice of these sensible and instructive idioms are just a few more things to go on the expanding list of things to do.
In the hectic, sometimes frantic-feeling, moments of the day, there are occasions when others become unknowing impediments to one’s progress in ticking off the to-dos. There are, however, always happenings up ahead to which one is not always privy. Geese, for example, have places to go too. When a goose and her goslings cross the street, only the person who stops the car to let the family pass understands the urgency of the matter. The persons in the cars behind have no clue why traffic has suddenly stopped. It is only when the gaggle has crossed safely that traffic can resume. And, it is at this time when all held-up drivers may be pleasantly surprised by an adorable glimpse of what caused the delay, and smile.
In a diligent attempt to complete my list recently, I had run into a different kind of road block. On a busy, two right-turn lane intersection with no turn on red, just off a busy exit ramp from the expressway, traffic was unusually slow. As traffic allowed, I inched my car nearer to the intersection. I could see an SUV in one of the right-turn lanes with flashers on and the hatchback open, causing all cars to merge into the only available turn lane. I didn’t get the sense that the driver needed assistance because I could see someone going back and forth to the stopped vehicle. I also noticed that there were no honking horns which would be the normal sound if someone was inconsiderately blocking traffic. I noticed no sirens or flashing red or blue lights. With each green light that turned red postponing my turn, and therefore, preventing the swifter completion of my tasks, my anxiety increased.
Finally, I would be able to turn next. Out of curiosity, I looked to see what was causing the delay. I didn’t see a driver in the car that was stopped in one of the turn lanes, but I did see a familiar face. A homeless man, usually on the corner asking for help, was quickly walking away from the intersection carrying a plastic bag with both hands. The bag looked to hold food containers. Now able to make my turn, I found the owner of the vehicle who had been impeding my progress. She had just handed a plastic bag of food containers to another man, one I had also recognized from asking for help on that corner. The driver of the car stopped in the turn lane was distributing meals to the homeless. It was Thanksgiving eve.
What if God allowed me this opportunity to reveal humanity in action? To see how inconsequential it is to focus on frivolous tasks? The true tasks are those that should be done for others, no matter how long they take to be accomplished. The other revelation is that, when goodwill is at the top of the to-do list, the world will wait, patiently, quietly, until the task is completed. Sometimes, in the hyperactivity of life, God has a way of turning roadblocks into roadmaps that lead to divine inspiration, causing hearts to melt and human spirits to soar.
Image by Elsemargriet from Pixabay
