All of us have turned down a one way street the wrong way and abruptly become aware of it when oncoming cars appeared, heading straight for us. Though none of us intend to go the wrong way, disaster can result from just a few seconds of ignoring the signs.
Yesterday, while maneuvering out of the airport parking garage and chatting with Linnea, I made a serious wrong-way mistake. As is true of many parking garages, a corkscrew ramp connected the different floors, and we entered one of them without paying attention.
As we went round and round I said, “I’m not sure why we’re going up,” but in an instant I found out: we were upping the down ramp.
When another car came flying around the blind curve unaware we were rising to meet him, we nearly made impact. “Mom!” Linnea shouted, as we both swerved and stopped short.
The other driver was gracious, rolling down his window and saying, “I have no idea how you got here, but you’re going the wrong way.”
Meanwhile, other drivers were careening down the ramp toward us, and our crisis continued. “Mom! Turn around!” Linnea said, fear in her voice.
As we inched back and forth in an effort to quickly right our wrong, I repeatedly sounded the horn to warn oncoming traffic, and 4 cars screeched to a halt to let us finish our 180. Finally arriving at the base of the corkscrew, the place we wrongly entered, I said, “The sign above will say ‘exit,’ I just know it.”
Linnea looked back as we came off the ramp: “It says DO NOT ENTER!”
I’ve often wished God would plant directional signs along life’s path so I’d know exactly what to do and which way to go. But yesterday proved that even if he did, and even if he used large block letters on a yellow background, I might still miss his warnings.
Actually God has been holding up signs in front of me for 6 decades. His collection of them is called the Bible, and he’s got a directional for every situation, many of them cautions I ought to heed. Although DO NOT ENTER isn’t one of his top 10, he does have quite a few DO-NOT’s. And just like on the corkscrew ramp, ignoring them is always dangerous. That’s the reason for his DO NOT’s in the first place. What he means is, “DO NOT get yourself in a mess you’ll regret later by ignoring my warnings,” a good reason to stay focused on his signs.
I think I understand the layout of the airport parking garage now, but just to be sure, I think next time I’ll let someone else drive.
“We must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1)
Oh my! I’m so glad you didn’t have an accident. My solution to avoiding those corkscrews is that I always park on the ground floor in one of two areas – depending on the airline. Then I always know where to find my car. Those corkscrews make me nervous even when I’m going the RIGHT direction!! Have fun with Linnea & kids!!
Gave me chills just reading this!
The Lord protected you, and gave you a very helpful blog to think on!
Have a most wonderful time together.
Thank God for His protection…..and thank YOU for such a timely message.
Have a super dooper time with Linni and babies.
You know, Margaret, behavior like that is going to make your kids have a meeting about what to do about Mother. : )
Whew! Had my heart flippin’ for a few seconds. You made it, and that’s what counts! Great Bible verse; thanks.
I just had a vivid picture of this! Glad everything turned out OK and you were able to get an idea for the blog. God must have had his hands on the steering wheels of the other cars to make sure His angel on earth remained safe.