Detour

I know very few people who are pleased, happy, or excited when they come upon a detour. Most of us leave ourselves just enough time to get to our destination and a detour sign causes immediate stress and frustration. But, sometimes detours can lead us to something beautiful.

There is a road that we take when traveling to my family's home in southern California. It is actually a 'short cut' through a canyon. The road cuts back and forth through the canyon and the turns are tight. The speed we are able to travel is significantly slower than the highway we leave behind. But the canyon is beautiful and the back roads that lead into town are full of beautiful orange groves and strawberry fields. The smell is amazing and the drive just wouldn't be the same without that 'detour' from the main road. Driving this short cut for the very first time would likely feel slow and confusing. But after years of using this path we know it to be a shorter drive time and have come to enjoy this path much more than the main road.

Sometimes a detour can make a significant change in our lives. Ever heard of someone who's life was spared because they missed their plane? Or maybe someone who didn't get into a car with friends and missed a devastating crash? Or maybe someone who's life simply takes a different path because things didn't go the way they expected: like getting dumped one day and meeting a future spouse the next, or being fired one day and being offered a job with more pay the following week, or having a 'perfect' house fall out of escrow only to find something unexpected soon after?

Life is full of detours. And, admittedly, sometimes they are ugly and lengthily. But there is one factor that seems to make all the difference on perspective: faith. You see, I am one of those people that believes things happen for a reason. And I believe wholeheartedly that even my best effort to plan will not always be what God intends.

We have just come upon a detour.

After diligently mapping out the finances for our adoption and laying our plans at the feet of our Heavenly Father, we asked in simple faith that He would bless our efforts and use us as tools in His hands.

We had no idea what that would mean. He has something much bigger in the works. Our small ideas and expectations are being blown out of the water one day at a time. Each day this week we have been given a small glimpse of what's coming next. Each day we have been stretched to a new level we didn't think possible. And each day His grace has been enough.

This week have experienced the most unexpected employment change possible. And as Brad prepares to go to work for a new employer, we are eagerly rolling up our sleeves and jumping in.

We believe God's plan will always be better than our own, and we are excited to see our Father moving mountains as we watch in awe. As we pick up speed on this new path laid before us we are filled with the peace of the Spirit and know without doubt this will be for the Glory of our Father in Heaven. All praises be to Him.