Directional Giftings

Finding my way around town hasn't been easy, even in a city where I've lived 15 years XD

All buildings look the same, all streets are the same color, and at night everything is black. How was I supposed to know that I should take a left on 4th avenue two miles ago? Circles were fun to draw as a child, but now roundabouts produce minor PTSD.

Not everyone was meant to work in delivery or the shuttle services... ahem, I'm a prime example.

I remember one of the first times that I went driving with my permit, a family of deer decided to nonchalantly prance across the side road which I was carefully traversing. My father reached out and directed me to stop, which I did enthusiastically as killing mammals wasn't on my to-do list that sunny weekend afternoon. The small family of deer decided that spooking me wasn't enough, so they stopped in the middle of the road and looked in my direction as if to make a statement. "Maybe if I nudge them with my bumper?" I quickly tossed the thought into my mental trash bin, where all spontaneous but dumb thoughts go (or should go).

The deer moved on moments later, and as the stragglers of the group disappeared in the distance my dad and I shared a laugh.

There were other moments in the months that followed when my dad or mom would go out with me to practice driving as I accumulated my hours. I remember a time when I thought left turns at lights were the same as right, if you stop on red and no one is coming then go ahead! Well... that's not how it works I guess.

Every time I was greeted with healthy guidance, and now, five years later I find myself giving people on campus rides everywhere (for a small fee of course, gas prices are climbing).

The guidance I received from my parents enabled me to feel confident about my driving skills, and today driving is fun and freeing (except in Dallas traffic... that rarely is fun).

I am very thankful for my GPS, which tells me every direction (and RECALCULATING) of my journey.

The Bible works the same way. I was so reliant on my own wisdom and skills, that I began to think that the Bible was useless. Why spend time reading this book if my life is already in a great place? My time is more valuable than that.

Then life hit me hard, probably God's way of saying, "Hey, I'm still here".

I'm thankful for the speed-bump (social anxiety & depression), and I recommend you be thankful for when God allows speed-bumps in your life also! They hurt the bottom of the vehicle when you're going fast, but if you go the speed that He has spoken over your life it won't be damaging.

God doesn't create pain, or hurt, or discomfort to teach us lessons. Every good thing comes from God, and every bad thing from the enemy. God allows bad things because he knows that if we experience them we won't rely on ourselves.

And honestly, self-reliance is no fun.

What is fun is communing with God everyday, knowing that a fresh start is there to claim every morning when you wake :)