"Detour!"

"Detour!" said Johanna

Johanna.
That would me.
Blogger/writer for my JoStory blog.
Soon to be writer for a new adventure ahead.

Blogging was going well until I ran into a detour last month.

What do you do when you come to a detour?

• Do you follow the signs and trust they will get you to your destination?
• Do you try to plan ahead and stay away from the detour - take another route or just don't go there?
• Do you ignore the signs and take a chance that the road is not closed?

What do you do with your detours?


I have run into my share of road detours in the past few years. Detours can really be an inconvenience. I have to admit that sometimes I just don't have time for detours.


Last year I ran into a detour on a road I often travel. I knew the detour was there but forgot to go the other way. So this time I took a chance on the road being open. The sign said 'No Through Traffic'.

It didn't say 'Road Closed'. How would they know if I lived there or worked there? I didn't have time to go around ...so I drove right through that detour sign. Big mistake. 5 miles down  the road I discovered the sign was right. The sign now said 'Road Closed'.

I had to turn around and go 20 minutes more out of my way. Good lesson to follow the detour sign. It is ALWAYS the best way and the shortest way and...it could save me from driving into a big hole someday.

Another detour was last Spring on a road trip to Ohio. Flooding was bad in Ohio which meant many detours that took us through many cute country towns that I never knew existed. We passed by a whole road under water. My kids wanted to take some photos of the flooded road. So I detoured for a few minutes...turned my car down the street that said detour - Road Closed Ahead!

I drove as close to the water as I could get and still be safe. We all jumped at the car to take a few photos of the swollen river and flooded road. Soon another car pulled up behind ours and a man jumped out and ran towards us to warn us not to drive any further. We thanked him for his concern and chuckled as we got into our car and drove away. To think that he really thought we were thinking about driving into that river?!?

Sometimes I like to check out the detour just to see what I might be missing. Good lesson to see that detours protect us from danger...just keep going...no need to check it out.

One more detour I often remember was on a road trip to Maine with my kids. We took the northern route from Michigan through Canada to Maine. I planned out the route I wanted to take and I never thought about detours until we ran into one in Quebec. It wouldn't have been a big deal except...the road signs in Quebec are mostly ALL in French. I know very little French. When you are going 70 mph on the interstate there is no time to translate the detour signs. I had to totally trust that arrow on the orange sign to get me to my destination.

We followed the signs about an hour out of our way. This detour ended up being a little side trip through the beautiful city of Montreal - which we had not planned. We did get to Maine a little later then planned but I was so glad I just trusted and followed those detour signs. We also found ourselves learning a few more French words - just in case!

I have learned this is the best way to do a detour...to totally trust it and follow it. It may take longer but it is the best and safest way to get to my destination.

Road detours are like life detours. Life changes and goes different ways.

• Sometimes we choose to not follow and trust God in the detour we end up paying for it.
• Sometimes we stall by trying to see what trouble is ahead. 
• Sometimes we get it right and follow and trust God to detour us safely his way. We may have to go places we never been before and we'll learn and experience new things. 

When God gives us a life detour we can know he always has our best interest in mind.

This year I have run into one of those life detours. Blogging has been going well but a new adventure-a detour from blogging has appeared. I have been given an opportunity to write for an online magazine -
My Kid's Adventures.
It means deadlines & learning more electronic/technical writing skills, and facing the possibility of rejection. But I know God is in this detour. Hopefully in a few months we will be reading my articles online. I am going to trust and follow God on this detour. This sign says, 'Detour - New Adventure Ahead'. so....Stay tuned for more...

What detour are you facing?  

You could be in for a new life adventure too...if you trust and follow.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."