January 23, 2012

Gary Frankly Speaking

If You Don’t Watch Out,
You’ll Wind Up Where You’re Going!

Week before last Carol went to Weatherford with Jackson to meet her mother for lunch. They had a delightful time together, and then Carol headed for home. She decided to come home by way of Airport Freeway. Previously, we had noted a sign on the freeway that warned that the exit to Highway 121 would change to the left lane. However, Carol was not paying attention to signage this particular day and had been driving in the left lane. All of a sudden she realized what had happened. The left lane was exiting onto 121, and there was nothing she could do but go where she was headed. She called me laughing, “Guess where I am? On 121!” She continued, “I wasn’t watching and didn’t realize until too late that the exit had changed.” She then exited on Harwood and made her way back to 183 so that she could stop at the church and pick me up.

TXDoT threw her a curve. Carol was following the same course she always took to get home. You may remember that when we moved here, Toni McMillon told us the fastest way to get somewhere was to stay in the left lane. Carol was simply doing the same thing she’d always done. But something changed, and it wasn’t Carol. However, Carol reaped the consequences. She had to make an unintentional detour to get back on track.

The Christian life has to be lived intentionally. It is a life whose focus is always on God. And we maintain that focus through Bible study, daily devotions, prayer, Sunday School and worship. And even then, Satan may try to throw in some road construction which may cause us to veer off course. (Please understand I am not calling TXDoT the devil.)

As we journey through Epiphany, we remember that as the wise men left Bethlehem, they no longer had a star. They, like we, had to rely on God’s daily guidance. Take a few moments to consider how you are seeking God each day because if you don’t watch out, you might wind up where you’re going!