Jen and I are having a dilema. We’ve planned on driving up to Portland for the last few days now, but our plans always seem to get pushed back for some reason or another. We’re packed (almost) and ready to go for tomorrow morning, but there is a pretty good sized snow storm in the pass that we’d have to go through. I don’t mind driving in bad conditions, but we’re a bit concerned about the other drivers on the road, because it’s always somebody else who is the dangerous driver, right?
In some way this feels like a metaphor for life. We have a journey to make, and we know the conditions will be rough. We think we can we can handle it, but we are afraid that some of our fellow sojourners are more detrimental to our journey than we are. (I am sitting here wondering which direction to go with this)…
Taking away the driving idea…which is why I started this post…I think I struggle with trusting people. To be honest, I have been hurt, confused, and betrayed (all unintentionally) by others on my journey and sometimes it just makes me want to quit. I know that I: a) am self-deceived; b) am limited in my perception, and c) have high expectations of others…(which may be linked to being self-deceived)…So this whole relationship with others on the journey thing is hard, and messy. Because at the same time that I think that anonymity and autonomy are the safest way for me to go, I know that full-spectrum of Jesus’ love is perfected in communion with others…who are also messy, self-deceived, and have high expectations of me.
So do we get in the car and try to make it through the potential dangers ahead…or try to wait out the storm and hope for clearer skies tomorrow?
I don’t worry about danger in snowstorms (probably naive there, but hey)–but if you hit it when it’s bad you can get stuck on the road for hours. I’ve spent 17 hours on the interstate for what was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour trip before, and now my policy is that if I think I’m going to get stuck somewhere, I’d rather be stuck with a bathroom.
K, so I definitely appreciate your candor about the inward ish stuff, and I will comment on that soon…but if you are forced to stay longer, I would LOVE it if you could come to my birthday dinner tomorrow night. Paul Martin’s baby. Got to go to life group now. Talk to you soon.
I’m happy you’ve decided to come. You’re in Roseburg so far! PTL for His protection and care.