The GPS marked fifty-four minutes from my house to my friend’s hometown. It was her son’s birthday, so she wanted to celebrate it with her family. given that most of them hadn’t left the town it was best for the few of us in the city to bring the party over to her relatives. It was a straight shot, all I had to do was get on the freeway, then get off on exit 54, make a couple of lefts and rights and I would’ve made it to the place. However, my fifty-four-minute drive turned into a one-hour-and-a-half adventure. The moment I was about to get on the freeway the GPS popped up one of those “car crash ahead” signs, and suggested I take a different route. I was reluctant but since the traffic to get on the freeway was looking bad, I chose the detour.
Like me having to take a detour from the freeway I wonder how many times we’ve been forced to take a detour in our lives. We didn’t get the job, the relationship didn’t turn out to be what we expected, or we took a leap of faith but failed in the intent of conquering what we envisioned. it never gets easier to look at ourselves in the mirror and accept that we’ve been defeated. No one (at least that I know of) is excited after the dream they had been working for several years ended. The default emotion is disappointment, which is my first point. Today’s culture has become so fast-paced and “positive-minded” that saying you are sad is almost a crime. Many influencers on social media pop up on their Instagram stories talking about how they’ve manifested the life they wanted, and how positive thinking is the pathway. Whether negating their emotions works or doesn’t work is none of my business and I am not here to judge anyone. The only thing I want to tell you is that being emotional is being human. How would we know what happiness feels like if we were always happy? It’d be impossible, the only reason we know happiness is because we also know pain and disappointment. You are allowed to have your feelings. I believe it is more than healthy to let those emotions manifest in your life. Cry, be sad, and let God know how hurt you are. It is all part of the beautiful human experience.
Now, just because it is ok to experience our emotions doesn’t mean that it is ok to not allow the emotions to pass, and that is my second point. It is heartbreaking the amount of young people who’ve never been able to move past their feelings. The example that comes to mind is relationships. We all know that one person who built the Chinese Wall replica around them after a heartbreak. It is impossible to connect with them, every time you take down one wall a bigger one is in line. I am a firm believer that the so-called obstacles are the trampolines God uses to launch us to the next level. Maybe that heartbreak was caused because you ignored the red flags that were being laid by the other person. If after allowing yourself to feel the emotions, you learn from the experience I can assure you that the next time you meet someone, you’ll have more clarity on what you are looking for. Whether that is friendships or something more intimate.
Maybe the roadblocks in life are not blocking the path, maybe they are guiding us to it. Growing up Hannah Montana was one of my favorite shows, I remember eagerly waiting to get home after basketball practice to sit in my parents’ bed, turn on the TV, and watch it till mom called for supper. When the movie came out a whole new world opened for me, not only did I love every part of it, but I also fell in love with the scenery. The horses, the hats, and the whole country vibe became my dream. So much so that when I’d pray for God to open the doors for me to play basketball in the States, I’d request that the doors be open in a place like that. God is a God of the little details, he doesn’t halfway give, and for me that looked like a door being opened in Texas. When I was forced to take that detour, I was also forced to drive through one of those old Texas highways, where the sun sets upon the hay bales and the horses freely run inside those white picket fences. My detour was an opportunity for me to be reminded of how much God loves me, a chance to see my “Hannah Montanna dreams” become a reality.
We will never know where life is taking us unless we keep going. I wasn’t happy about having to take a longer drive to the birthday party, but I kept driving and that led me to a beautiful highway. Life works the same way, I am sure that more than once we will have to press the brakes and take a different route than the one we had planned, but don’t be discouraged. You already have a couple of miles journeyed on the dashboard, use them to your advantage, and let the GPS of life take you where you are meant to arrive. I am sure the road God has paved for you will lead to the most gorgeous sunset you’ve ever seen.
As always, I want to thank you for letting me be a part of your story. Remember that like you I am also trying to figure it out, so don’t be discouraged… you are not alone. If you feel like you want someone to talk to send me a message (you can do it on the newsletter page) I’d love to connect with you. In a world filled with truths I’ve found someone who wasn’t lying when he said he had the truth, his name is Jesus, and he is changing lives left and right. Get to know him!