All Roads Lead To Texarkana

All Roads Lead to Texarkana

Jesus [said], “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

John 14:6

A few years ago, my friend Charlotte and I took a trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Since Charlotte is not a morning person, I drove first. And about the time we crossed the Red River going north, she fell asleep.

Charlotte hadn’t traveled with me very much at that point, so she didn’t know that when God handed out compasses, I thought he was giving out “rumpuses” and asked for a very small one. If I make two turns, I’m lost. I can even get confused going to my office (ordinarily, that wouldn’t be funny, but I work at home).

I’d been driving about two hours when Charlotte roused. She seems to have a built-in radar device in her brain. She can be asleep, but if you start going the wrong direction, she senses it and wakes up.

“Where are we?” Charlotte asked.

“Still going north on Highway 19.”

“Then why does that sign say twenty-one miles to Texarkana?”

“I don’t know,” I said defensively. “I haven’t made a single turn.”

“You must have turned somewhere, because we’re going south, not north.”

I stopped, and Charlotte studied the map for a minute. Then she began laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Well, friend, we’ve made a grand circle, and we’re almost back where we started.”

“No way! Well, I’m not very good at directions.”

“No kidding!” Charlotte laughed. “Next time I’d better drive.”

“Drive! You couldn’t even stay awake.”

Since that trip, my friends like to joke that whenever Mary drives, all roads lead to Texarkana.

Savior and Lord, help me to remember that I am never lost as long as I’m with you. Be my compass and help me to stay on the right path. Amen.