Bends and Adventures
Bends come regularly in our lives. We drive along enjoying the scenery and then a loop changes everything. We’ve all experienced these loops—the times in our lives that curve with our roads like graduations, career or job adjustments, weddings, first babies, the losses of loves ones and more. All these things make up the adventures on our roads.
It’s the time of year for graduations and weddings. I’m sure all of us have celebrated one or both a few times in the last month. So, what is next around that curve ahead of us?
A Change of Scenery
I have been at my desk, at my job, for a great number of years. I can’t imagine what it might be like NOT to report in every day at the same desk, at the same time, all day and every day for the week. I enjoyed my job. The work I did affected lives around the world—I worked in a ministry. It was good.
But now, my scenery is about to change. That, too, is a good thing.
As retirement becomes normal for me, I am feeling the anticipation. What is coming next for me? What new road is God preparing for me? Will it be the one I have mapped out or will I end up applying the brakes (maybe even do one of those tire screeching wheelies across the road?) as I drive full speed ahead?
Time
Time has always been the most precious commodity because there is so little of it left after all the work week responsibilities have been fulfilled. The surprise is that the responsibility doesn’t go away. The stewardship of time just changes. And that is another bend in the road!
Flexible and Willing
The trick is to be flexible and willing to trust the One who sees the end of the highway before me. When I turn the corner of my road, what lies behind me disappears and a new vista widens before me. (Maybe I should stop at that vista point to see what new painting God has rendered for me? I’ll be sure to pull out my camera!) Surely from this place I can see forever!
Adventure beckons. I want to try new things—go where I have not gone before. I want to develop some projects that have been waiting for such a time as this. I want to break through to new understandings of God’s Word. I want to be free to follow the Spirit’s lead (once I get my earthly vessel moving in the mornings, that is). So, I am willing—where will God lead me next?
I always want to be learning, but never arriving. The time is too short. Draw me on, Lord. Together on the journey.
“But Barnabas took him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he (Paul) had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him (Paul)…” Acts 9:27a.
Lynn Hare says
Linda Jo, congratulations on your retirement. I pray that the swtichbacks of the path bring you relentless waves of Christ-joy and great surprises!
Linda Jo Reed says
Thank you, Lynn. I’m excited to see what God has for me on this next stretch of road. Yes, yes–Christ-joy!
Laurie Klein, Scribe says
Congratulations, Linda Jo! Here’s to bends and wheelies and seeing “the Lord on the road”!
Linda Jo Reed says
Thanks, Laurie: I think it must be those bends and wheelies that make life exciting, eh?