Curves

                                                                                              Photo credit: Stuart Lee Sims

Have you ever been on one of life’s curves? You were moving forward on the straight and narrow and then – a curve! It was unexpected and frankly unwelcome! Before you were slammed into this massive turn in your life, you envisioned a glorious journey that was straight ahead.

Reality is that life is full of curves. Some are small. Some, however, are hairpin curves that make your head hit the window as you try to navigate quickly enough to keep from going over the edge.

Those. Are. Hard.

The curves and the angle of them vary, as does our ability to take the curve successfully (totally subjective)!

You have hit the brake so hard, You’re on a precipice, unsure of what to do to maneuver your way around the very edge of looming disaster.

You’ve also put your foot to the floor, opened the window, and enjoyed the excitement of the sudden breeze as you leaned into the turn at full speed.

Other times, you saw the loop just ahead and paused long enough to weigh your options- take the bend to the unknown or turn back.
The immediate response depends on the circumstances – the reason or cause for the sudden shift. One huge factor is whether it’s a lone CURVE or if it’s one in a series.

Sometimes they come at you like fast forward on a movie screen. You can barely survive one before the next one trips you up. You’re meeting yourself around the loop and chocking on your own fumes.

You’re tired! You’re ready to sit on the side of the road, enjoy the mountain view and remember better days. Just as suddenly, you want to look forward and know it will be okay.

Your heart hurts – literally hurts! It physically aches!

What can you do other than take a few tentative steps toward the mountain view. Lift your hand to your brow to focus on the beauty, soak it in with a long deep breath. Slowly let it out as the gentle mist settles on the majesty before you. Forget the heartache of the curves in the road and allow yourself to be enveloped in the beauty of His creation.

Those curves…they wrap around His majestic mountains. He created the mountains and He allowed the curves.

Rest in Him and His sovereignty.

Roll the window down, put your arm out and let it wave in the wind while you boldly take those curves!

And smile! It will make a difference to you and everyone who sees you!

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road.”
—Helen Keller

How have the curves of surprised you? Did you lean in or step on the brakes, struck with the fear of the unknown? How have you handled the hairpin turns in your life?