Mystery Rides

When I was a kid, we would take "mystery rides." This tradition dates back to my own mother's childhood. On a Sunday afternoon, we would pack lunch and head off down the road with no idea where we were going but ultimately having the adventure of a life-time. We would sometimes get to our destination by flipping a coin at different intersections; heads we would turn right and tails left. Other times my dad would ask "left, right or straight?" and a different kid would answer each time.....of course, sometimes we would end up going in circles!! But mostly, we enjoyed the sites along the way.

Looking back on these adventures, I'm struck by a few things:

1) The ingenuity of my grandparents and ultimately my parents in keeping this tradition alive. It was such a great way to spend family time AND now that I'm a parent, I realize it was a way to keep the peace......no one had to decide where we were going. We all had an equal say in the destination and the road we took to get there. We thought our parents were the coolest people in the world.......letting us decide each and every step along the journey.

2) I sometimes think my parents had a destination in mind and others were true mystery rides even to them. They enjoyed the open space of the road and not being restricted by a time or a deadline to be somewhere.

3) They trusted that adventure was just around the corner. No matter our destination, we could enjoy ourselves anywhere!

Of course, I relate this to our current "Mystery ride:" God ultimately lets me decide "left, right or straight." Will I be obedient to the still small voice telling me which way to go? When I'm at an intersection, will I prayerfully consider the choice in light of the destination? He knows the destination and He is waiting for me to string together the steps to make it there. I am not restricted by a timetable or a deadline. He is in control. No matter the destination (or how long the journey takes), I will have an adventure and should enjoy the ride!.