Where or where have the passengers gone?

For those of you who have so faithfully followed 40 Passengers on the Journey, you might be wondering if the driver’s GPS went out, did the bus have a wreck, maybe someone became ill???  Well, thank you for wondering.  The reality is that the Driver received a message to take a detour for a few days.  Just as in real life, there are detours that God sends our way and indeed, they serve a valuable purpose in our spiritual development.  In this case, it was not a co-incidence, rather a God-incidence that this trip happened during Lent.  As we know, Lent is a time for reflection, cleansing, change, growth, and renewal.  It is like pruning time for trees and shrubs.  Without those encounters, we die on the vine.

So, why the detour?  You will have to wait for the book to come out to have the full details, but I can summarize it for you.  God’s plan on this journey was to have the passengers learn important lessons from one another and of course from the Driver.  However, there are many others to meet who are not on the passenger list and they all will teach us amazing lessons about ourselves and others.  In this instance, the detour included several people, some with a minor role and one or two with Hollywood credentials!

While you wait to read the details (hopefully this year----I still need a publisher), here are a few highlighted lessons that resulted from our stars on the detour:

1.       You might be the designated leader, but you are NOT in charge.  God will always be in charge, so fear not.

2.       You might be a spectacular planner but detours happen.

3.       Change is not always well-scheduled.  We must be flexible in action and attitude.

4.       Even strong Christians will question God when detours come along.  They might not get their answer…..at least not right away.

5.       God has specific ways to use each of us; some appear positive and some not.

6.       For things to change, I must change.

7.       Prayer certainly helps---even in dry times.

8.       No pain, no gain….ugh!

9.       There comes a time when you realize that what you wish for world peace to look and feel like, can be out-of-focus sometimes.

10.    Some people are already giving you their best.

It feels great to be back on the journey.  You see I am the one who needed the lessons.