A Story about Getting Lost, Road Signs, & Jesus

by Elizabeth | Sep 29, 2014 | Learning Story

Have you ever been lost and really needed a sign? Here’s one of my favorite “lost” stories.

I like my GPS friend, except when I don’t.  Yesterday was one of the “don’t” days.  All I wanted to do was find the Florida Turnpike so I could get the heck out of Central Florida via I – 75…

Homeward bound, I was, and I still had time to make our Sunday evening traditional meal of Hamburgers and French Fries (Yes, that is capitalized – good beef, grilled burgers, and homemade fries, family tradition from my mother’s side that stayed steady even in uncertain times….).  Every Sunday night, and it tastes so much better when you’re coming off road food (which for me, on a retreat or conference weekend, often means subsisting mostly on Think Thin bars and coffee for about 72 hours because I’m too rushed for the real meals.)

Even if I hadn’t been on a deadline to make dinner, I would have been in a hurry.  I am, shall we say, an “efficient traveler.”  Ask anyone who has ever had the dubious joy of being a passenger in a vehicle I was commandeering on a road trip.  Don’t drink much, because there won’t be many potty breaks.  I am single-minded and focused in my goal of making it there.  We will stop for lunch at the regular time but we will eat it in the car, so bring a towel to catch all the drippings from that greasy fast food!

All that to say, yesterday, my GPS friend failed me.  But knowing she was going to do so, I had even asked directions from the bell”boy” at the hotel – “How do I get to the Florida Turnpike from here?”  I should have noticed the telltale frown of uncertainty on his baby face (I had, after all, been teaching on “uncertainty” this weekend:-), but I was in a hurry and I wasn’t going to ask someone else.

So I turned back to my trusty friend who had gotten me out of many a jam in the past – Ms Gips, as I call her.  No matter how much I argued with her, she insisted on taking me on the highway – I wanted the byway!

Finally, after wasting an hour or so driving around Orlando, I gave in and went her way, the high way, but not without a rant.  (Yes, my children and husband are thanking God now that they weren’t along for this ride!)  And then.

And then, I said to myself, or should I say the Holy Spirit said to me, “It’s been such a beautiful weekend – lovely women representing not all, but many, of the tribes, tongues, nations, and people groups of this cosmos, along with a handful of very gracious men; deep engagement with the Word and lovely new friendships formed…

ARE YOU GOING TO LET LOSING YOUR WAY LET YOU LOSE YOUR WAY?”  Truly.  Will I let all the grace drain out of this glorious weekend?

So I began to thank God, aloud, for every wonderful moment of the weekend, and I tell you, there were many.

Then I saw it.  I had seen the practice circle the skywriter had scrawled in the sky.  But then I noticed a word…I said to myself, “Does that say…?”

But I knew.  I didn’t need to ask.  I knew exactly what it said, even before I could read all the words…”Jesus l…”  I didn’t need to wait for the skywriter to finish his message in the sky.  I had spoken the words with conviction less than 24 hours before:  “Jesus loves you.”  (Actually, the sky eventually said, “Jesus loves u.”

Being the efficient road warrior that I am, I waited for one of the many stoplights that had interrupted my flow so that I could take a photo.  But now I kept getting green lights.  Finally, I did a wasteful thing.  I pulled to the side of the road and took this picture…

Thanks be to the God who speaks to me in the sky when I lose my way on the road!

Do you have any lost stories? Sign stories? “Jesus loves you” stories? Please share them in the comments!

Never miss another great story — sign up for the feed here — You will receive encouraging, inspirational, challenging, stories and thoughts once or twice a week at most!