Following Google's Directions Might Take You Where No Man Has Gone Before

Photo by Mary Vee

I planned to go to a meeting with some fellow writers. I plugged the address into Google and looked over the three plans it gave.

The directions seemed good.

But I didn't trust them. Poor Google didn't know when construction and other unusual issues, like too many traffic lights, delay the trip. It thinks like a crow.

So I disregarded the first half of the instructions and jotted down the rest. Once on the expressway, Google had to be my guide since I was out of my element.

Yeah! I reached my destination ten minutes early.

On the ride home, though, I thought I'd take a chance and drive the "quicker" route according to Google.

Yea.

Fortunately, I had a compus in my car.

Photo by Mary Vee--I haven't a clue where I was.

After the meeting, I thought it might be fun to try Google's fastest route. I exited the express way and drove a short ways to an intersection.

To go straight, as the directions indicated, would be to drive on a dirt road. I was okay with that, until the car shook as if it was in a paint mixer.

At the next intersection, the next unlabeled intersection, the dirt road in front of me had a "dead end" sign.

My home was northeast for the point I exited the expressway. No problem. I didn't have a clue where I was, but I had a compass. As long as I headed north or east, I would find home.

I texted my daughter and told her I was following Google directions home which meant I was playing a derivation of our family Vee road trip game.

Our family loves to see new things. For fun, we pick a destination like a lake or town we haven't seen. We start on some side or country road, heading in the general direction of the endpoint we want. If the road ends, we turn, always heading in some way to where we want to be. You wouldn't believe all the fantastic tiny towns, vintage houses, little business, and scenery we've stumbled across.

Photo by Mary Vee--still not sure where I was

Back to my crazy trip home: I stair-stepped from one dirt road that had a dead-end sign to another. I felt like progress had finally been made when this paved road suddenly appeared on the other side of a hill.

This incredibly "as the crow flies" route took about double the time to drive. I am so glad I didn't try it on the way to the meeting.

However, I must admit, I saw some very lovely countryside.

Aren't you glad God's directions lead us safely to our destination? His Word is trustworthy and true. Thank you God.

Have you been on any odd trips like this?

This post has been brought to you by the one word: GodIsOurCompass

Comments

Suzanne Woods Fisher - Overcoming the Fear of Failure

We've all had something fail. Maybe a school assignment, baking a cake, changing a car tire. Well that was my shortlist confession. There really is a mile long list that you don't want to hear. Talk about a quick drive to the blues. Even one negative comment in a barrel full of praises can take us down. Sigh. Why oh why do we remember the one negative one and forget the positives. You are not alone. We all do this. But there is a way of escape. Today, Suzanne Woods Fisher is going to share her story. The Fear of Failure “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13, niv). Years ago, before I received my first book contract, an editor returned a manuscript to me with the comment that the writing wasn’t up to her publishing house’s “caliber.” Ouch! That was a tough remark to swal...

A Memory Device For You

Photo Courtesy Recently I added a memory game to my week's activities. It all started when I listened to one of those fabulous sermons in church and actually took notes. Later in the week, I recalled liking the sermon and searched for the notes, but lamented when I couldn't find the piece of paper. I quizzed myself: What was the general topic? I racked my brain…good grief this was Thursday and a thousand other things had happened when I asked the question. After a cup of tea, visualizing where I sat in the sanctuary, and using every other means possible to remember the general topic I finally answered the question. The process to recall the rest of the good things said was an epic fail. Although I have since started using a notebook I have created a memory game. On Monday, at any point during the day, I try to say the following without the use of my notes: General topic of the sermon Main book of the Bible used Application p...

Laughter and Singing at the Homeless Shelter

It was a night to remember. A night to tell friends about. So I am... Fifty men, women, and teens rode in busses on icy expressways into the inner city. They poured out of the bus at a homeless shelter unsure where to go, what to do, or what to say. One led the pack through the main doors, pass security checkpoints, and on through winding hallways to a large room. At night, this room is filled, wall to wall, with cots, blankets, and at this time of year, cold homeless men, women, and children. On this evening before the night, hundreds of chairs formed straight rows and faced a platform. The fifty set up sound and instrument equipment. Singers cozied in the limited platform space. Instrumentalists tuned their instruments. A few residents poked their heads in the door. Intrigued, they came in and watched the first measures of several songs start, stop, start again. Microphone levels adjusted. The singers laughed. Chattered. The group stepped off to the side and...

The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Search This Blog