A flagger once stopped me in a road construction zone. “Not again,” I muttered under my breath. “Why do I get stopped or detoured when running late?” Then I took a deep breath and detoured my thinking.
At nineteen, I worked as a flagger to put myself through college. Yes, I was one of them. Suddenly, like many things in life, I realized this was all a matter of perspective.
It’s easy to get resentful and wonder why things happen. Waves of frustration used to run through my veins when I was stopped by a flagger—back before I became one.
The truth is that detours and road construction signs symbolize the rebuilding of roads. Removing the worn, cracked pieces of asphalt and replacing them with smooth, uncracked highway surfaces makes our lives lovelier, although the process is often bumpy.
God uses the same process with our hearts. We all have places of despair and crustiness—chipped pieces that need remodeling. Sometimes, when life seems to be chipping away in chunks and cracking into pieces, our loving God is in the process of renewal, repair, and restoration.
Nowadays, I like to wave, smile, and bring flaggers cold drinks. I offer them gifts of gratitude. They are making the roads safe, smooth, and beautiful. We are blessed by new resurfacing.
Remember that sometimes, it’s easy to think of life’s detours and roadblocks as potholes. Instead, they are remarkable journeys to remodel and resurface the potholes of our hearts.
Cherrie is a writer.