Traveling Through The Unknown

I set off on a trip recently to visit my parents who were speaking in Canada. My Dad had e-mailed me directions, so I printed them off, packed my bags, and headed out the door. It was a bit of an adventure for me. I'd never been to Kelowna, B.C. and never crossed the border by myself. I had no idea what to expect. But I was determined to meet up with my parents and trusted my Dad's instructions to get me there.

The first couple hours of travel were beautiful, comfortable ones. I rode the ferry to Edmonds and drove up I-5 to Bellingham. Everything was relatively familiar. From Bellingham, per my Dad's instructions, I turned off on a lovely country drive up to Sumas, the last city before crossing the US/Canada border. He had even noted for me to be sure and gas up in Sumas and to dispose of fruit or vegetables, if I had any. I followed his instructions to the letter.

Customs was less smoothe than we'd anticipated. They decided to detain me and search my vehicle. They found nothing, of course, and finally after about 45 min., they let me proceed on my way again.

This is the part of the trip that took me a fair leap out of my comfort zone. For one, everything is posted in kilometers. Fortunately, my car's speedometer displays the conversion in a way that's pretty easy to catch on to. But still, everyone was whizzing past or tailgating me as I tried to keep around 5 km over the speed limit, speculating cops would look to nail foreign plates. It was a bit frustrating, but the scenery was lush and new to my eyes, so I tried to shift my focus.

Time and kilometers rolled by slowly. Another difference I noticed in Canada is that they don't post very many signs, stating how far it is to the next major cities. Looking at my Dad's directions, I realized that he hadn't written any estimates that way (like "stay on this highway for about 90 km" or "it will be about an hour until your next turn"). My parents and I both had no cell phone service either, being out of the country. So I couldn't call to get an idea about my progress or of what to expect.

After nearly 6 hours of traveling, I began to really wear down. It had been pouring rain after crossing the border. I had no map of where I was. Ironically, hope began to leave me after I passed the town of "Hope" and changed highways. For from there it was a series of mountain ranges to cross. There were so many ups and downs in terrain that I couldn't use the cruise control, so my leg was getting tired. It also snowed for about an hour of the trip. And the semi drivers were crazy--getting under my skin as they often do in the states as well. On the downhill they'd tailgate me in the slow lane when I was already going 10 km over the speed limit (75 mph), but of course then they'd crawl on the uphill and I'd have to pull out and pass them.

As I mentioned earlier though, the hardest part was how desolate it was, with several hours between any towns whatsoever, and scarce signs to even give a hint as to how close I might be getting to my destination. It's difficult when everything is unfamiliar, you don't know what's around the corner, and there is no time frame to aim for! You begin to wonder if you'll ever get there and you have absolutely no clue where you are.

The one hope I kept clinging to as I plugged along, was that I know my Dad is trustworthy, so he would make sure to give me instructions that would get me there (even if they weren't as specific and detailed as I wished they would have been :) ). I had turned on every highway he told me to, so eventually the roads would have to lead me to him and my Mom--to a safe place where I could rest.

Eventually they did. There was just one minor glitch in the last turn off, but it wasn't hard to figure out. Plus after realizing his mistake, my Dad posted a sign with an arrow and my name, to make sure I found the right street. As I pulled in, parked next to their RV, and then joined them inside, plopping down on the couch, a sense of relief washed over me. "I'm here! The long journey is over and I can just rest for awhile. Dad's directions did get me here safe. It's so good to be here and I'm looking forward to soaking up and enjoying the time ahead!"

As I reflect on my trip and the journey, it astounds me how much it parallels my actual circumstances in life right now! After following God's leading in resigning from a job that was beating me to a pulp, and having the 2 major jobs I'd applied and was hoping for fall through at the last minute, it feels like I'm out in the middle of nowhere. I'm worn down. My hope is faltering. At this point in my life, I'm also wrestling with questions about what He has in store for me with my love story. My heart cries out "How much farther, Lord?" There's another mountain range and the snow is coming down and I ask "How do I make sense of where You've brought me? What's around the corner? This doesn't feel very good! I can't take much more! Do I even want to go where You are taking me?"

Perhaps you can relate. Perhaps you are facing confusion or questions in some aspect of your own life right now. Perhaps you have encountered pain. Maybe you wish you had a map or a clear idea of how much longer your circumstances will persist. Are you exhausted, discouraged, perplexed, broken-hearted, feeling all alone, or losing hope and faith in God's plans? Maybe everything is falling apart and you're crying out "Where am I and where do I go from here?"

Friends, God is incomparably more trustworthy than any earthly parent or loved one! He knows where He's leading us and He's going to make sure to get us there! Often He doesn't show us the big picture. Often we wish we had more specifics, clues and details in the directions. But He has promised to guide us and to keep us on the right path. In Psalm 32:8 He declares "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." He also promises in Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

Jesus has backed these promises up in sacrificing His own life--all to convey, "No one loves you more than I do! No one cares more about your ultimate and highest good, than Me! Please just keep listening. Keep following. You can count on Me to bring you to a safe place where you can soak up and enjoy what I've planned for you! Trust Me, you do want to go where I am taking you!" He promises "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). He also says in Matthew 7:11, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

My trip up to Canada was rough, but my time there with my family was wonderful and absolutely worth it! As you and I look back on our lives someday, may we also say that though parts of the journey were incredibly long, harsh or difficult, what God had in store was absolutely worth it too!




P.S. I love nothing more than seeing how God brings beauty out of any and everything--how He can weave all things together for good!! (Romans 8:28) His stories are the best! In the midst of my pain today, I heard a new song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Beauty Will Rise." The words and music gripped my heart and convicted me once again that no matter how dark the night may seem right now, joy will come in the morning and beauty will rise from the ashes!

Realizing that he wrote this song after the tragic death of his young daughter inspires and moves me! His pain has been so great and deep, yet he sings with hope and faith that God will still come through in bringing about beauty out of everything that "will take our breath away." I will join him in singing this song. Maybe you will too--I've posted the link to it (on you tube) on this blog. I'd highly encourage you to watch it, but also to close your eyes and really listen to the words as well! May God enable beauty to rise in your life, right here, right now!