DETOUR
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." Proverbs 3:5a

      Do you ever find your self running on the fast track and can't seem to stop? It's so easy. You are not even aware of how fast you are running until you are completely exhausted. Or, maybe you are rendered immobile through some freak accident. A few years back I found myself in just such circumstances.

      One evening upon leaving my son John's house, I tripped on the bottom step and ended up flat on my back on the sidewalk with excruciating pain in my right ankle. I groaned, "Don't touch me! Just let me lie here awhile."  I felt so stupid. How could I be so clumsy?

      R.J. insisted on taking me to the hospital emergency room. After an X-ray determined I had no broken bones, just a severe sprain, I was handed a pair of crutches. The man said, "Do you know how to use them?" Well, I had seen plenty of people hobbling around on crutches, and it didn't look all that difficult, so I said quite confidently, "I think I can manage." What a mistake that was.

      My first trip to the bathroom disclosed how inept I really was with these crutches. I had gotten up from the sofa and tucked the crutches under my arms and started off down the hall in the direction of the bathroom.  Swinging along quite successfully, I was thinking myself very skillful, when, suddenly everything got out of control. I went sprawling headlong, landing with my arms trapped under my ribs thereby knocking the wind out of myself.  R.J. heard the crash and came running down the hall. "What happened? I thought you knew how to use those crutches?" After catching by breath I let out an anguished moan. I rolled over and replied grumpily, "If you don't mind, just walk around me because I intend to spend the night right here."

      Since the doctor had said I could not walk for a week, I lay there contemplating the ensuing week. Suddenly I recalled a book I had just finished reading titled Prison to Praise, by Merlin Crothers.  Merlin was stressing the importance of praising the Lord in all circumstances. On that thought a short poem came to mind; a sort of prayer I shot heavenward, not totally believing in the validity of this theory:

          Praise You in the sunshine,
          Praise You in the rain.
          Praise You in the good times,
          Praise you in my pain!

      The next day R.J. determined it would be a lot safer to rent a wheelchair rather than chance my falling again, hobbling about the house on those crutches. At first I was disgusted at the prospect of sitting for a whole week. There were so many thing I wanted to do, or thought I must do.  As I look back on this incident, I can see how good it was to just sit quietly and reflect on my surroundings; little things that go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of trying to get everything done, which never happens anyhow.

      I settled into a routine of sitting on the sofa in the front room reading a book, or just gazing out the window at the cloudless blue sky and the pine trees swaying with each gust of wind stirring across the front yard.  As the days drifted by I began to enjoy the peace that seemed to descend upon me at the sound of birds singing in the trees outside the window. Such joy filled my heart as I watched two little finches flitting through the branches, calling to each other. What a carefree life they lead.  They sounded too happy to be worrying.  "I could learn a lesson from these trusting, little feathered friends," I mused. This detour turned out to be just what I needed, a time of rest from my daily routine. In my quiet reverie I realized that all those things I thought I "must" do suddenly seemed rather meaningless. A new awareness of God filled me with contentment, and I found myself singing songs of praise to God. I remarked aloud, "Maybe there is something to this 'praising the Lord in all circumstances' after all." This poem came to me as I sat watching those happy little finches:

          TRUST

          In the lofty branches of the pine tree
          Sit two finches, unconcerned as can be.
          They never seem to worry what tomorrow well bring
          They have plenty to eat and a happy song to sing.

          Friends, here's a lesson we could borrow;
         God will surely provide for our tomorrow
         So why should we worry and get upset?
         Just trust our loving God; He won't forget.