It was August of 2013 when I originally wrote these words: I don’t usually tell you the titles of these weekly pieces but I do name them and this one has to be shared~ The Trip I Did Not Plan. Who would have thought that when I set out to meet my newest grandson on June 29th that I would end up with two new tires, a broken speedometer and a new battery! But about 150 miles into the trip, while passing a slow moving truck in the center lane, I heard a loud POP and I knew immediately that I’d just gotten a flat! I quickly pulled over on to the shoulder and while my mind was racing as to what to do next, I noticed that someone else had pulled over ahead of me. As I stepped out of the car to assess the damage (and boy was that shredded tire a shock!), a kind gentleman came up to offer assistance. We decided it would be best to call AAA. Three and ½ hours later I was on my way again thanks to a tow truck/auto shop owner who had my tires in stock (coincidence?) and noticed that a second tire was about to give out too. And I’d like to say that the rest of the trip was uneventful and worry free but it wasn’t! Just after crossing over the Pennsylvania/Ohio border, the speedometer decided it had lived a long and productive life and died. Four days later, the battery did the same. Poor Jeff, every time I called home I could hear the unspoken question, “What broke now?” This was definitely NOT the trip I’d planned! But, I eventually arrived in Michigan. The week was filled with lots love and came rapidly to an end!”
On April 4th of this year I took another unexpected journey which resulted in a 7 week interruption of Ready for the Road Ahead. After several days of extremely labored breathing my husband brought me to the emergency room of our local hospital. X-rays were taken of my lungs, blood drawn and vitals recorded. The diagnosis was what we’d expected. I had Covid 19. What we didn’t expect was that my case was THE WORST they’d seen to date. I was put in an induced coma with a respirator taking over my breathing for the next 9 days. The hospital staff told Jeff to prepare for the worst. I might not be coming home from the hospital- ever. Over the course of those next 9 days many prayers for a complete restoration were lifted up on my behalf and God in His most gracious and loving kindness heard and answered them. I was expected to be in the ICU for approximately 7 weeks (if I survived coming off of the ventilator) but miraculously I went home in 13 days! This was definitely NOT a trip I’d planned either but it became a life-changing leg of my journey.
Life does have its unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes you set out on a quest or heading towards a goal and get totally tossed about by an unexpected event like a blown out tire or a life-threatening illness. Other times the road is filled with detours or even a dead stop and you wonder if it's really worth making the journey at all. If you think about all the hazards and unexpected trials life may throw your way you may not even want to venture forth at all lest “something goes wrong” like a busted speedometer or catastrophic illness. After the trial-fraught trip to Michigan I wrote, “I guess after this trip, I've learned that the bumps might not necessarily be fun, but the fear of encountering them is worse; and you will always find kindness when a stranger stops to help or a service person does their job well. The bottom line is this- a trip filled with bumps does look better in the rear view mirror, but unless you leave the house, there will be nothing in the mirror to see. And if you don't leave, you may never experience the joy of where the journey brings you. So, it's best to pack your bags and be as prepared as you can.”
It’s true that road trips are far easier to prepare for than the battle I faced when the Covid diagnosis was positive. You can’t really prepare for unpredictable turns in your life even though insurance agents claim their policies will protect you from those unexpected medical emergencies. Whether you’re heading out on the road in your car or heading into treatment setting forth on that kind of journey puts you in good company with a number of Biblical people: Abraham, Daniel, the disciples and Paul to name a few. My post in 2013 concluded with these words, “Once settled in at my son’s house after the tire fiasco, I was reminded of Paul’s second missionary journey. Instead of reaching his projected target of the west coast of Asia Minor, God redirected him to Macedonia. I thought about Paul’s original destination. Had he reached it at that time we may never have had several New Testament letters that Paul wrote to churches he planted on that re-routed trip (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians) or Luke’s account of the detour in Acts 16.” No one can predict or plan for the journey your life will take you on- only God knows those particulars. But as Hebrews 11:1-16 relates those who take this journey in faith will see God’s rewards when they reach their final destination. Bumps and trials, no matter how small or how extreme they are, are not something we look forward to, but God is in the midst of them! Let me encourage you to watch and see what He is about to do (Heb. 12:1-2). Who knows- you may just witness a miracle.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
On April 4th of this year I took another unexpected journey which resulted in a 7 week interruption of Ready for the Road Ahead. After several days of extremely labored breathing my husband brought me to the emergency room of our local hospital. X-rays were taken of my lungs, blood drawn and vitals recorded. The diagnosis was what we’d expected. I had Covid 19. What we didn’t expect was that my case was THE WORST they’d seen to date. I was put in an induced coma with a respirator taking over my breathing for the next 9 days. The hospital staff told Jeff to prepare for the worst. I might not be coming home from the hospital- ever. Over the course of those next 9 days many prayers for a complete restoration were lifted up on my behalf and God in His most gracious and loving kindness heard and answered them. I was expected to be in the ICU for approximately 7 weeks (if I survived coming off of the ventilator) but miraculously I went home in 13 days! This was definitely NOT a trip I’d planned either but it became a life-changing leg of my journey.
Life does have its unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes you set out on a quest or heading towards a goal and get totally tossed about by an unexpected event like a blown out tire or a life-threatening illness. Other times the road is filled with detours or even a dead stop and you wonder if it's really worth making the journey at all. If you think about all the hazards and unexpected trials life may throw your way you may not even want to venture forth at all lest “something goes wrong” like a busted speedometer or catastrophic illness. After the trial-fraught trip to Michigan I wrote, “I guess after this trip, I've learned that the bumps might not necessarily be fun, but the fear of encountering them is worse; and you will always find kindness when a stranger stops to help or a service person does their job well. The bottom line is this- a trip filled with bumps does look better in the rear view mirror, but unless you leave the house, there will be nothing in the mirror to see. And if you don't leave, you may never experience the joy of where the journey brings you. So, it's best to pack your bags and be as prepared as you can.”
It’s true that road trips are far easier to prepare for than the battle I faced when the Covid diagnosis was positive. You can’t really prepare for unpredictable turns in your life even though insurance agents claim their policies will protect you from those unexpected medical emergencies. Whether you’re heading out on the road in your car or heading into treatment setting forth on that kind of journey puts you in good company with a number of Biblical people: Abraham, Daniel, the disciples and Paul to name a few. My post in 2013 concluded with these words, “Once settled in at my son’s house after the tire fiasco, I was reminded of Paul’s second missionary journey. Instead of reaching his projected target of the west coast of Asia Minor, God redirected him to Macedonia. I thought about Paul’s original destination. Had he reached it at that time we may never have had several New Testament letters that Paul wrote to churches he planted on that re-routed trip (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians) or Luke’s account of the detour in Acts 16.” No one can predict or plan for the journey your life will take you on- only God knows those particulars. But as Hebrews 11:1-16 relates those who take this journey in faith will see God’s rewards when they reach their final destination. Bumps and trials, no matter how small or how extreme they are, are not something we look forward to, but God is in the midst of them! Let me encourage you to watch and see what He is about to do (Heb. 12:1-2). Who knows- you may just witness a miracle.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
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