Watching for Life's Potholes

          Ah, early spring… time for disappearing snowpiles, Red Sox opening day, and potholes. Yes, that winter gift that keeps on giving, until the DPW finally gets around to filling it.

          A week or so ago, in another town that shall remain nameless (but it was dark and the street was poorly-lit), I hit one of those bone-rattling, chassis-jarring chasms that my car and I survived only (I'm sure) through a miracle. I pulled over to the side and got out, sure I would see a flattening tire or two, or some other obvious destruction. So far, everything seems fine.

          The art of dodging potholes goes something like this: manage to dodge it the time, and you feel great. Remember where it was and dodge it the next time - good going. But hit it once, and then you find yourself repeat-thumping through it the next time down that street - feels pretty dumb, doesn't it? And in a strange town - just hope your eyes and reflexes are tip-top.

          Sure, you know what's coming next. For each of us, there are plenty of potholes in life - things that get us in trouble, that dent or flatten our relationships with God and with others. None of us can be all-pothole-free, all the time. When we've hit one before and then allow ourselves to fall into it again - feels pretty dumb, doesn't it? Maturity must be partly defined as remembering where those craters are, and having learned a lesson, avoiding them next time. But there's always new territory to come, with new potholes to watch out for.

          It's wonderful to know that God loves us, no matter how much we thump and rattle over life's potholes. But it sure must please God a lot when we learn about avoiding them.

          Smooth traveling, and happy spring!

Rod