I had a poignant experience on Saturday that reminded me who really navigates our lives and I can't stop thinking about it. So here it is. For the last four weeks I have been running non-stop. I lost my aunt, and then a week later I lost my uncle. By Friday night I had been to Idaho twice, Montana once and Layton several times. I was working all week and fulfilling family obligations out of town every weekend and for a week and a half of that time I had a sinus infection so I didn't feel great. Late on Friday night, as I drove the hour and twenty minutes from my house to my mom's house it all came crashing in around me. I cried all the way from American Fork to Layton. I didn't get to sleep until 1:30 am, and had to be up at 6:00am.
Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time my mom, sisters, aunt and I piled into my car to go to Idaho yet again for my uncle's funeral. We decided to take the shorter, more scenic route. Just north of Preston we found out that the highway we were on was closed up ahead because of LOTOJA. I was annoyed. I had planned my route and I wasn't happy that my plans had been changed for me. (I never handle that very well, unfortunately.) We back tracked and headed toward I-15 which was quite a bit out of our way. Thankfully we made it to the funeral before it started. The funeral was beautiful, and even though I was completely worn out I wouldn't have missed it for ANYTHING!
After the funeral, we were headed back to I-15 across highway 30 in Idaho. Just west of Lava Hot Springs we came across a three car accident that had just happened. I could see that EMS wasn't on the scene yet, so I pulled into the gas station grabbed my first aid kit and went over to see if I could help. At that moment I was so grateful for the hundreds of First Aid courses I have taught over the last 8 years. It helped me to remain calm and do what needed to be done. After about 20 minutes, the EMTs and a Sheriff's deputy had arrived on the scene so I turned over the care of the girl I was helping and we continued toward home.
As I drove, I thought about our being re-routed because of the race. That morning I was so irritated that my plans had been changed, but I realized that had our path not been changed that day, I wouldn't have been on that stretch of road. I wouldn't have been there to help someone in need. And I remembered that as much as I think I'm in charge of my life, think that I map my own path, the truth is that there is another navigator. The one who sees the path each of us need to take to be where we need to be. I'm grateful for the reminder, and I'm grateful for that navigation in my life. And I'll try not to be annoyed the next time my path has a detour. I might be exhausted emotionally and physically, but I could have it so much worse.
Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time my mom, sisters, aunt and I piled into my car to go to Idaho yet again for my uncle's funeral. We decided to take the shorter, more scenic route. Just north of Preston we found out that the highway we were on was closed up ahead because of LOTOJA. I was annoyed. I had planned my route and I wasn't happy that my plans had been changed for me. (I never handle that very well, unfortunately.) We back tracked and headed toward I-15 which was quite a bit out of our way. Thankfully we made it to the funeral before it started. The funeral was beautiful, and even though I was completely worn out I wouldn't have missed it for ANYTHING!
After the funeral, we were headed back to I-15 across highway 30 in Idaho. Just west of Lava Hot Springs we came across a three car accident that had just happened. I could see that EMS wasn't on the scene yet, so I pulled into the gas station grabbed my first aid kit and went over to see if I could help. At that moment I was so grateful for the hundreds of First Aid courses I have taught over the last 8 years. It helped me to remain calm and do what needed to be done. After about 20 minutes, the EMTs and a Sheriff's deputy had arrived on the scene so I turned over the care of the girl I was helping and we continued toward home.
As I drove, I thought about our being re-routed because of the race. That morning I was so irritated that my plans had been changed, but I realized that had our path not been changed that day, I wouldn't have been on that stretch of road. I wouldn't have been there to help someone in need. And I remembered that as much as I think I'm in charge of my life, think that I map my own path, the truth is that there is another navigator. The one who sees the path each of us need to take to be where we need to be. I'm grateful for the reminder, and I'm grateful for that navigation in my life. And I'll try not to be annoyed the next time my path has a detour. I might be exhausted emotionally and physically, but I could have it so much worse.
