It's Always an Adventure

It's always an adventure when I drive to Maine, and this trip was no different. I can't seem to go the same way twice, even though I take pains to plot my course before I leave home. Invariably, GPS decides to do its own thing somewhere along the way.

This time, I didn't respond quickly enough when Gypsy (what I call my GPS) asked if I'd like to take an alternate route that would save me "14 minutes". Since Gypsy has a mind of her own and is somewhat impatient, she put me on the alternate route without my consent. The new route was lovely however . . . and remote.

Mostly, I don't mind remote. There's less traffic and the odds of seeing something unusual or interesting go way up. But, I do like to know where I am, so when I spied a general store in the distance, I decided it was time to to pull over. Once parked, I checked the map, and breathed a sigh of relief seeing I was indeed heading in the right direction albeit by a circuitous route. No matter. Enjoy the adventure, I say!

Since I was stopped, I decided to abide by a long-standing Blair Family Rule - never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

I walked into the store which was much smaller on the inside than it seemed on the outside. Each of the outer walls were packed with beverage coolers, one side alcoholic, one side not. In between were narrow aisles lined with snacks and odds and ends. I asked a woman who worked there if there was a bathroom and she pointed toward the back of the store and said, "Oh yes, it's the door with the black squirrel on it." Okay . . .

I found said squirrely door, opened it, turned on the light, and latched the door with the provided hook and eye. Then I turned around and laughed. I was standing in a 4' x 4' room whose formerly white walls were covered in graffiti literally from top to bottom. (How someone could reach so high to write was beyond me. Standing on the sink, maybe??) The graffiti went back decades it seemed. Some doodles were the typical "So-and-so was here", or "Mary hearts Johnny", but there were other writings that were more profound. Honestly, I was sorry I didn't have my camera on me because it was all so impressive.

My favorite scribbling was on the lower third of the wall, squeezed between some other scribblings. It said, "If Jesus seems quiet, just remember - no one yells when they're standing next to you." I loved that.

I've thought about that little scribbling on and off the past few days. It made me remember other times in my life when I felt like I had on that unknown road - alone, isolated, not having a clue where I was going or what I was supposed to do next. How in those moments I wanted God to shout or rent a billboard or write in the sky or at least post a Facebook meme about what I should do. I wondered where He was.

He was right next to me.

God was and is my GPS, that still small voice guiding me on a path I know nothing about, but He does. I take comfort knowing I am not walking that path alone. He's right beside me, whispering directions for my next step, putting me on an alternate route when I take a wrong turn, getting me back on track, and making sure I have a safe harbor along the way.

I may not know the way, but I know who planned it, and it's always an adventure!