Coco Calling No.281 - When You’re Forced to Change Direction

 

My owner works for two different schools. He’s not bright enough to be a teacher, so his job is to help cook school dinners in one school, and to transport them to the other. He knows the route to East Anstey Primary like the back of his hand. He’s done it in all weathers for a number of years, and the route is always the same, day after day. In fact, you could say that he drives his metal chariot on ‘autopilot’ to get there. Well, at least, most of the time…...

One day, last week, when he was about half a mile from East Anstey School, he suddenly came across a ‘Road Closed’ sign and barriers blocking his route. There hadn’t been any prior warning, so he was taken completely by surprise. And he had no alternative but to turn his metal chariot around and find an alternative route. And all of a sudden, he was forced to take a step back and start thinking about where he was going.

A lot of humans live out their lives on ‘autopilot.’ They get into a certain groove which helps them deal with day-to-day life, and they don’t always stop and think about what they are doing or where they are headed. That is, unless a ‘Road Closed’ sign springs up expectedly in their life. Perhaps an illness, a bereavement, a redundancy or a failed relationship. Because then, they have no alternative but to change direction and think about where they are going. And sometimes, something in our lives that can be very difficult and hard to bear, can actually work as a blessing in disguise. The life of Jesus and the entire Christian faith are based on reversals just like this. So that we have eternal life springing out of physical death. And the rich being poor and the poor being rich.

So, maybe we all need to be more open to a change of direction. A bit like my feathery friends that go on long migrations each year in search of something better!

“Every disappointment or misfortune can become a blessing in disguise, for which we should be grateful………Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, for he knows not that it brings abundance to drive away hunger.”                                                                                                  (St. Basil: [c.329 – c379]: A Greek who became Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (Asia Minor). He was a theologian who supported the Nicene Creed, and was probably best known for his care of the underprivileged and poor).

“Life sometimes takes away what you think you want so you can find what you truly need.”

(Linda Carter: [1951 – present]: American actress and singer).

“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”                   

(Tony Evans: [1949 – present]: American evangelical pastor, speaker and author).

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 

(2 Corinthians 4:17)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him….”                                       

(Romans 8:28)