Last week, my owner had to make a journey from Penzance in Cornwall to the edge of Exmoor in Devon. It was the day after some heavy snow, and the roads were still hazardous. Sadly, he doesn’t have a set of wings like me, so he used his ‘driving machine,’ and sensibly decided to keep to the main highways, including the A30 and the M5. There was quite a lot of snow lying on the higher parts of his journey, and in places, it covered some of the outside lanes. Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor both looked stunningly beautiful and helped to distract him from the jeopardy of the driving conditions. And it wasn’t long before he came across a three-car collision. And then a second one. And then a single car that had spun around to face the wrong direction. And further up, a two-car collision. Oh dear!
He carried on, but then the ‘talking machine’ that he calls a radio told him that a lorry had caught fire on the slip road that he intended to use to leave the M5, and that the road was likely to be closed for many hours. So he thought to himself, I’ll take a cross-country route and avoid it. So he left the A30, and found himself on snow-covered country lanes that were barely passable, slippery and treacherous. He realised that he had made the wrong move, so he turned around and went back on to the A30. Then he decided to head into Exeter which was gridlocked. After what seemed like a very long time, he managed to crawl his way across the city and come out the other side. Then he was back on country lanes again, but these were lower lying and most of the snow had melted.
He was beginning to feel quite choughed with himself when a sign appeared in front of him. It read: “Road Ahead Closed Due to Landslip.” And sure enough, it was shut. It was now dark, and he wasn’t sure which way to go. But he followed his instinct. He drove along a whole number of tiny country lanes which had columns of grass growing down the middle, and where the undergrowth on either side brushed against his wingmirrors. These lanes were so pothole and crater ridden that he almost felt as though he was attempting to drive across the surface of some far-flung planet. But eventually, his instinct proved right; he persevered and arrived home safely where a welcoming cup of hot tea was thrust into his hands. It had been a rather epic journey, rather like the journey of life. So often we see the beauty of the world around us, but have to deal with all the obstacles and hazards, and sometimes, it’s only our faith and perseverance that gets us through. But ultimately, we arrive at our final destination. Our true home. Our haven. Our salvation. Even though there may have been times along the way when we doubted in its very existence. We are all asked to persevere, but ultimately, we will get there if we just keep on going….
“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
(Charles H. Spurgeon: [1834-1892]: English Baptist preacher, still commonly referred to as ‘The Prince of Preachers.’)
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
(Corrie ten Boon: [1892-1983]: Christian writer and speaker who survived internment in a World War 2 Nazi concentration camp.)
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love Him.”
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