Closed?

There are two seasons in Wisconsin - winter . . . and road construction. The same is probably true where you live as well. Road crews seem to always be fixing something on our roads. Why is that? Shouldn't things last just a LITTLE while?

I was on my way to work Thursday morning, driving semi-consciously through the pre-dawn darkness, when I saw a new sign go by on the side of the road.

"What did that say?" I thought to myself.

Another sign soon appeared and answered that question. I actually READ this one.

ROAD CLOSED AHEAD

What? This was a major highway I was traveling on. How could the entire road be closed? Maybe a lane closer. I could understand that, but the entire road? Yup.

Soon there were barrels and directional arrows forcing me to the right, forcing me to get off the road. Construction barrels, yellow flashing lights, men in reflective suits. Awesome! But what could I do? Nothing. So I exited. I had no choice.

Usually, when construction crews close a road there are detour signs, someone has thought ahead and provided an alternate route for us weary travelers, using helpful signs, to direct us back onto the road road we were on. Usually. Not Thursday morning. There were no detour signs whatsoever.

Have you ever found yourself diverted from your intended path in life? Have ever thought, "Life is going pretty darn good." when all of a sudden, things start going pretty darn bad? Maybe the phone rings late at night with some bad news. You get a text message you really didn't want to receive. Or maybe something so unexplainably bad happens . . . so bad that you can't even comprehend it.

One year ago today our community was rocked by the death of a beautiful young woman named Kameron. She was 17. Somehow she found herself in a similar situation to the one I had on the road the other day. Alone in the darkness. Not really sure which way to go.

We can ALL find ourselves in similar situations. Sometimes we get diverted off life's road. Should we turn to the left? Should we turn to the right? We can get so confused in this life. We find ourselves looking for some kind of direction. And sometimes we can find ourselves thinking that we just want the whole thing to end.

Too often we get in those situations and we're looking for direction, all we really want is just a little hope. We look to the left and to the right and when we don't find that hope, well, it can sometimes be life changing. We think there are no answers. Except we forget to explore all the options. We forget to look in EVERY direction available to us. So often, when we find ourselves without hope in this cold, dark world, we forget to look . . . up.

When Jesus was crucified, and died for our sins, suddenly his disciples experienced a "road closed" sign in THEIR lives. Suddenly they were without hope. They didn't know which way to turn. Do you know what THEY did? They looked up.

"3 After his suffering, he (Jesus) presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” - Acts 1:3-11

When we encounter seemingly life-changing events in our lives we need to spend more time looking up. Jesus is our only hope when we are lost and don't know which way to turn. When we are at the end of the road, all alone in the darkness, we need to look up and ask for directions. We need to ask Jesus.

Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega

This blog post is dedicated to the family and friends of Kameron. Today will be a tough day to get through. When I have tough days I usually read the Bible - Romans 8 specifically. Try reading it today and see if YOU don't feel better.

Love you Kam.

Romans 8