The metaphor is “Life is a journey”. Unless you make it a simile, “Life is like a journey.” If you haven’t clicked delete already, the like provides you with reasons while the flat metaphor allows you to make up your own. A journey can move quickly and smoothly down I 10 to the right exit for a destination or a rest stop. Secondary roads can provide the scenic route or take you out of traffic jams. Dirt roads are adventures or total confusion, and you’d better have a vehicle equal to the requirements for either. Once we were vacationing at Rainbow Trout Lodge with verbal directions, took an unmarked left instead of unmarked right, and the way ended when only trees were ahead of us. Thank goodness for reverse and try again.
All of us have road blocks. A big one now is quarantine and pandemic. A child throws up just as family is ready for church. The cat eats the turkey sitting on the counter. (Another true story). Life happenings of a new baby or a death. Next step is check the gas gauge, pass out emergency rations (always leave home prepared), and then see what turning around requires.
My life this week is not a full stop, yet definitely a haven’t been here before place. For the first time since I was 17 and had a 4/5 choir in a small Baptist church, I have only a 2 minute sermon to prepare for a 1st and 2nd grade church service, a task I can do as I fall asleep on Saturday night. One at a time I have passed points that were highlighted on my map of life. Three retirements finally put on end to planning classroom presentations, activities, and tests. I made it to tutoring which put me face to face with a child and able to chart growth until masks and certification erased that option. I still had a 1st grade SS class to create and direct. Like one of those detours, a schedule necessity closed that road. This week, I am adjusting. I’ll make two minutes be as good as I can, eat cookies, and see if another town close by offers any other attractions. Who knows, I may become a Master Gardener.
Forget about what is happening. Don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new!
Isaiah 43: 18-19 The Message
Let Me Tell Ya 