Serendipity: Falling Through A Trap Door of Blessing

You may know the old Irish blessing “May the road rise up to meet you.”May you succeed on the road” is the literal meaning. The song goes on to mention a desire for more favorable winds to blow from the rear rather than in head-on fashion. There’s a petition for sunshine to warm the face and for lavish rains to fall on the thirsty outlying fields.  The closing line asks God to hold the traveler in the palm of His mighty hand. Yet Life hands out its share of lemons. It’s not likely you’ll be traipsing carefree through the land of Oz indefinitely. It is, however, possible to encounter the serendipity of falling through a trap door of blessing.

You’re Not in Kansas Anymore

If only life imitated art. Images of inviting yellow bricks drift through our daydreams don’t they? Feel the warm, golden sunshine? Picture tiny water droplets glistening against the backdrop of the uncertain in between. It’s the stuff movies are made of. Literally. People of a certain age know it’s more likely you’ll need umbrellas, galoshes and navigation to a storm shelter or two along the way.

We need some serious mileage on our odometers before we realize just how many obstacles we will face in life. Some of us start out well enough. We plod down a carefully chosen course. It may appear innocuous or even promising. Wind in our young sails, we press forward with romantic dreams and lofty aspirations. We look ahead, but perhaps not entirely around. Maybe we’re even a little complacent and lackadaisical.

The Slow Fade

Then as we move through “adulting,” tempting shortcuts present themselves. We watch as those around us compromise their integrity one misstep at a time. And then, before they know it, you watch them slip into the abyss. The occasional cocktail after work becomes two bottles of wine daily. Inflated time cards become the order of the day. The seemingly innocent flirtation with the next door neighbor becomes something more and spirals downward into complete disaster. Eventually come face to face with our own demons. We can hardly believe it when we suddenly realize we are free falling downward wondering who will save us from ourselves.

Take heart, dear ones, if you see yourself in this scenario. The God of second chances is gliding alongside us as we spiral down and He’s ready to help us climb out of the abyss. If we are ready to come face to face with our bad choices, our Kinsman Redeemer stands with us in the crossroads. He invites us to appeal to Him for an informed course correction. Before we know it, our route is recalculated. He holds no grudge or resentment over the lost direction of yesterday. He offers new and fresh alternatives to help us rediscover the “race marked out for us,” as we read in Hebrews 12:2.

Look Alive

When we run the race marked out for us, we stay on the course God establishes for us. We do this despite the trap doors of trials and persecutions. Focusing on the finish line, we rely on faith for our stamina, integrity to stay with our commitments, and discipline to avoid falling into the trap doors beneath us. We do away with “everything that hinders,” as we read in Hebrews 12:1. Prayer, worship and reading God’s word all provide a righteous ramp that will help us avoid falling through the trap doors that sabotage.

Fresh Starts

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we can continually embrace a fresh infusion of God’s divine deliverance? I’m reminded of an old song by The Carpenters called “We’ve Only Just Begun.” In this 1970 tune, young, fresh love is full of “white lace and promises” and “so much of life ahead.” When we repent and continually renew our commitment with God, we are continually redressed in the white garments of redemption. Reminded of His promises, it’s possible to continually look forward to the life ahead not just on a daily basis on Earth but beyond into all eternity. No matter how many times we mess up or need another restart, God’s generator never runs out of juice. His grace knows no bounds. And for that we can be grateful. Resting in this truth we can experience tremendous gratitude for His daily dispensation of boundless grace and mercy.

(“The Trap Door: Embracing God’s Divine Detours” is a 10 week devotional that unpacks more traveling tips about journeying through life with humility and intentionality. It debuts in November and will be available to order on Amazon.)