Another incident that happened on my recent cycling adventure was meeting an obstruction in the road. We were cycling along roads in the Yorkshire Dales and a message came through that there was a lorry obstructing the road in front of us. We had to turn off onto a narrow country lane and were met by a police officer in her patrol car warning us to travel carefully, and that there was indeed a lorry obstructing the lane ahead.
A few moments later we came across said lorry, wedged tightly between two dry stone walls. He had evidently been following Satnav in his attempt to deliver some animal feed to the local farm. Unfortunately, the Satnav did not take into account the width of the lorry and the width of the lane.
We duly dismounted our bikes and walked through a field to be met by another police officer who kindly lifted 23 bikes over the wall and helped us cyclists to clamber over the stones.
It was a very hot day and the police officer certainly worked hard – (he was happy as the female officer further down the road in the patrol car was going to have to do all the paperwork!)
Once we had got back on the road, we continued on our way only to see more devastation to the walls as the lorry had attempted to drive down the lane before giving up and rather in a rather embarrassed state had to ring in to the police for help, and no doubt his boss.
I’m not sure how the situation was going to be resolved but there was talk of bringing a crane in to winch the lorry out.
Do we sometimes plough on ahead in life when it is obvious that we are on the wrong road?
Do we sometimes face obstruction to our path forward?
Do we sometimes meet rocks causing us to stumble, or renegotiate our way through?
God is our guide. He warns us of problems ahead, if we choose to hear. He lifts us over the rocks when we come up against them. He may not remove the rocks, but he has the strength to carry us through the difficulties we face.
And just like that police officer declined refreshment after helping us all out, God helps us out without asking for any reward.
PRAYER: Thank you God that you are our guide, our strength and our Redeemer. Help us to take note of the signs you give us and bring us safely to our final destination. AMEN