During the month of November and December I usually take an alternative route to and from work. The main roads to our house are inevitably cluttered with lots of holiday traffic and I like to avoid being on the receiving end of road rage or the infamous middle finger…so much for holiday cheer! Instead of being right in the middle of all that, I prefer taking the scenic, “back way” which leads me through a couple neighborhoods, a beautiful park, tree-lined streets, and finally to my destination. It is pretty peaceful and only takes me an additional 4-5 minutes. This morning, however, was not so peaceful. Four minutes into my drive I found myself cutting through neighborhood #2 trying my best to drive the speed limit because my worst nightmare is hitting some kid who runs out into the street retrieving a ball. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something perched on top of a medium sized rock (no, it wasn’t a child) and as I got closer I noticed it was a squirrel. No problem. I was going the speed limit of 25mph, but all the sudden this little squirrel started running into my path. It didn’t even have that last minute hesitation typically evidenced by most normal-minded squirrels when they realize they are in the path of something a thousand times their size. Stupid squirrel! It left me no reaction time to swerve. I simply felt a direct hit bump and then I gave a courtesy look in my rearview mirror. Yep…it was dead. For a minute or so, I felt bad that there was one less squirrel in the world.
Some of you have recently changed the course of your life. You made a decision to transform your old habits and lifestyle to be in line with God’s ways, but the new path you are on has presented you with countless challenges. Many times we envision that a commitment to change brings along happiness, peace, and a life without difficulty; however, a resolution to change generally means disappointment, pain, and struggle. Don’t get me wrong…transformation is worth the effort, but the track to change is often filled with hurdles. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah offers us hope through his own struggles with disappointment saying, “The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Although you may not feel as if hope is in sight, remember that each day offers a new opportunity to receive God’s mercy. The past is gone and cannot be changed. Begin again today.
