The Long Way Around!

This past week-end I was in Greensboro, NC helping at a Children's Ministry Conference.  After meeting the leadership team for dinner, it was time to find my hotel.  When I walked out of the restaurant I was looking at a Courtyard- Marriott in the same parking lot.  I knew I was staying at a Marriott, but I remembered something about an airport one.  I even said to my friends, "Too bad I am not staying at this Hotel."  After receiving directions from the locals my girlfriend & I took off to find our hotel.  It was a beautiful night so I put the top down on the car, we had a great CD playing- we were enjoying ourselves.   Strangest thing- we kept passing the airport but could not find our Hotel!  I had pulled up Mapquest directions before I left Charlotte- So we finally decided to  stop and dig them out from the bottom of several files in the backseat.   As we began to carefully follow the directions we eventually ended right back where we started!  We laughed & laughed.  It took us 30 minutes to make that trip across the parking lot!  What did I learn?  Well... First:  I had the right directions I just didn't use them.  Isn't that a lot like life? Often we have the tools we need to make proper decisions, including God's word, and we simply think we can do it on our own.  Finally,  we get so baffled that we decide to dig in and figure out the right path.   Second:  Don't trust the locals!  Not all advise is good advise (especially if you are asking the wrong questions!)   Third: Sometimes life doesn't take the shortest path- put the top down and try to enjoy the ride anyway!