DO NOT ENTER

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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)

People-Watching

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I’m not sure if only women do it, but many share my penchant for people-watching. It’s especially fun in public spaces like museums, theme parks and beaches. The variety is endless, no two alike, and guessing about their biographies captivates me. I have all I can do not to stop them to ask questions, wanting to confirm or debunk my assumptions.

An airport is another prime spot to watch, packed with colorful people both rushing and waiting. Nate and I did a fair amount of flying, and on one trip we sat behind a couple who bickered all the way from Chicago to Mexico. As we all left the plane, the woman strode off indignantly, putting quick distance between her and her husband. When he saw that, he shouted after her. “Oh right, now you go and commit the crime of walking ahead! You know how I hate that!”

Ever after, if Nate or I saw a couple walking one ahead of the other, we’d lock eyes and say, “The crime of walking ahead,” and then share a laugh.

Today I had the delightful task of collecting daughter Linnea, 3 year old Skylar, and 1 year old Micah at Chicago’s Midway Airport after their flight from Orlando. Arriving early to be sure I could help her maneuver children, a double stroller, a heavy car seat, carry-ons and multiple suitcases, I had ample opportunity to do some quality people-watching.

I kept an eye on waiting “greeters” who were scanning the crowd for their specific loved ones. As they connected, it was hugs, kisses, and exclamations of joy. Another favorite was watching military personnel dressed in full uniforms, each probably brimming with fascinating and possibly traumatic stories to tell their families. Then there were those in wheelchairs making a herculean effort to connect with others.

As I watched hundreds come and go, I thought of the ultimate in people-watchers: God.

He’s not only good at watching, he’s good at seeing. He can study the face of each person on the earth, all at once. He sees eye color, dimples, even freckles. But better than that, he doesn’t have to ask questions to get information, since he owns 100% of the details already. Superior even to that, though, is his ability to look inside: head, heart, body. And he watches all of this day and night, never taking his eyes off of us.

While I was waiting for Linnea and pondering all that, God reminded me of the most important facet of his people-watching. It has little to do with visuals and everything to do with how he feels about each passerby, loving them personally, eternally, unfailingly.

And this love is far superior to even the happiest reunion of airport passengers connecting with the ones they love. I hope they all know that.

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5)

Having Fun

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Everyone needs to have a little fun now and then. Good times seem to follow some people and not others, and the rest of us are drawn to them because they give life an up-side when it gets heavy on the down.

My mother was one of those and had a head full of jokes and a closet full of games. I don’t mean games like Monopoly or Scrabble, although she had those, too, but action games that got people out of their chairs, on the floor… and laughing. She loved to have a good time and went to great lengths to coax others to do the same.

But there’s another aspect to cheery people. They put pizzazz in an otherwise ordinary set of circumstances. Yesterday on a Michigan expressway I saw one of these people. Though I’ll never meet him, I wish I could. He was driving a massive semi-truck with a heavy load on it heading toward Chicago. As I passed him, I noticed a tiny little something securely tied to his flat bed with a big strap: a tiny toy truck.

Grabbing my phone, I clicked a picture while enjoying the intended chuckle. God seems to place us next to people like this when we need them most. He partners the lighthearted with the somber in friendship, in marriage, and in business. But interestingly, it’s not just about the joyful ones trying to brighten up the serious.

Fun-lovers gain greatly by sharing a laugh with others, more so than keeping it to themselves. That’s what’s behind the waves of forwarded email humor we all receive and send onward. It’s also what drives stand-up comics and is what’s peeking out beneath our “Merry Christmas” greetings. It’s also what motivates a truck driver to grab our attention with a toy.

Scripture touts the importance of spreading this good cheer. Different passages recommend it

  • when anxiety weighs down the heart
  • when someone is feeling oppressed
  • when medical problems are overwhelming
  • when it’s too hot or too cold
  • when a person is feeling old and worn out
  • when heartache has crushed the spirit
  • when mourning has gone on too long
  • when someone is troubled and feels hopeless

All of these people benefit from a dose of good cheer. There is one instance, however, when the Bible says sorrow is better than laughter, and that’s when repentance is needed. Paul describes sorrow over personal sin as an important “downer,” since it often leads to repentance and in turn, to an open relationship with God. Injecting fun into that situation too soon would only damage what could otherwise be a priceless outcome.

But after someone has become right with God, then is the time to have some fun, maybe even to strap a tiny truck onto the bed of a giant semi.

“Now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended.” (2 Corinthians 7:9)