A DARK PATH IS SCARY AND FILLED WITH SURPRISES
Joe and I have been having a Date Night every Saturday night. More times than not, he drives to the restaurant and I drive home. We usually take the scenic route which takes us through the middle of town. Abingdon has older, gorgeous houses, and I love looking at them. However, the last time that we went to the restaurant, Joe said, “let’s take the Interstate home instead.”
The restaurant is on an exit that I hardly take, so I was having a hard time figuring out where to go. My passenger-seat driver was full of instructions, which were starting to get on my nerves. When we were almost to the Interstate, Joe said, “get in the left lane,” but it didn’t register on me that he said left instead of right.
The direction that we were going was to the right, so I assumed that the onramp to the Interstate was to the right. Once again, Joe said get in the left lane and I responded that I was. Then he got animated and started pointing, and said, “LEFT, not right!” I had to swerve to get into the left lane in order to get on the onramp.
I told him that I wasn’t expecting the onramp to be on the opposite side of the road, and it was dark and I didn’t see the sign. If that wasn’t bad enough, when we got off the Interstate, there was a stoplight at the bottom of the offramp. I’ve been on that offramp a hundred times, but not at night.
Driving at night is not something that I enjoy, especially if it has been raining. Even with my contacts, I have a hard time seeing well at night, so I usually try to be home before it gets dark. We always take my car when we go out to eat because my vehicle has the brightest lights. I hate not being able to see very far down the road since I don’t know what is in front of me. More than once I have gotten surprised by a deer or dog standing in the road.
When I got ready to turn left, I turned short and was getting ready to head down the wrong lane. I couldn’t see the median in the dark, but Joe sure could. He started yelling, “you’re going down the wrong way.” I’m not sure who was happier to be home, me or Joe. I told him that I wasn’t driving us home again at night, so he would have to drive from now on. He was just glad to have made it home in one piece. Lol!
Psalms 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
On Monday, this verse was in my morning devotion. When reading the verse, it immediately reminded me of our trip home from the restaurant. My headlamps are bright, but they still could only light up a portion of the road, and that left me partially in the dark.
Have you ever been camping? If you have, then you’ve probably used a lantern to walk from place to place. The light that shown leaves a lot in darkness, but it still lights the path enough for you to see where your foot is going.
The Lord says that His word is a lamp for our feet. If you’re like me, you wish that the Lord said His word was like a Lighthouse beacon. I want to see where the Lord is sending me, are there any dips in the road ahead, how many curves are coming toward me. Seeing around the corner is impossible, so you just have to have faith that the road ahead is safe and that you will arrive at your destination safely.
The Lord wants us to lean on Him, and to trust where He is leading us. If we could see everything before us, would we lean on the Lord as much? Would we try to take matters into our own hands and quit following His path? I’m sure that we make a wrong turn occasionally, but if we read the word of the Lord, He will light our path back to Him and continue to help us on our journey.
None of us can see the path in front of us, and we aren’t guaranteed there won’t be surprises on our journey. But, if we follow the lamp that is in front of us, we will arrive at our destination, and that is the main thing!
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
OMGosh – I totally can relate. I have the same problem driving at night and some of my friends do too. On top of that, watching for deer this time of year adds to the stress. I’m glad you made it home safely. Thank you for the great message today! I often pray for a safe journey home when it’s dark and rainy.
I can certainly relate. I can’t see very well at night either and it makes me very anxious to drive at night. My husband is the same way about being a passenger seat driver. It makes me even more anxious but his shouting has help us avoid a few accidents. I don’t think he’s very relaxed when I’m driving, so I let him be my chauffeur most of the time.
Thank you for the story and the spiritual message.
Yes! I concentrate and focus driving at night since my husband won’t drive at night most times. Some of that glare and difficulty is caused by the first beginning of cataracts, even though they aren’t developed yet, per my Ophthamologist. I’m going to geet some Lumify drops, thanks to the lady who wrote about that.
God bless you, Tania!
I have just started having a terrible time driving at night with my contacts. I can use my glasses and I seem to better but it is so scary if I don’t have them. Thank you for the reminder that we are never alone or in the dark when we have the Lord in our hearts. Have a wonderful week.
Karen
Must be a common thing for women because I’m the same way. I wear contacts and get a lot of glare from them at night so needless to say my husband drives us at night. Great story and thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Tania, for giving us “mature” women not only fashion ideas, but confidence and a feeling of recognition when it can sometimes feel like we are invisible. You seem like a real, encouraging, solid person who loves the Lord! May He continue to guide and bless you and your family! PS- Night time driving in Arkansas is stressful too! Take care-
What a stressful evening ! I’m with you girl I don’t like driving at Nite for the same reasons you don’t. I’m afraid of hitting something. Just let Joe drive and you’ll
enjoy your evening more.
Karen Z.
I have been in your shoes many times and I hate driving at night for the very same reasons you do!
Good that you both got home safely! God was watching over you for sure!
Bless your heart, what a stressful night home, and on date night too. I am with you I do not like driving at night. I have excellent glasses too. My husband does not like driving at night either. The drivers in Arizona speed and some are very rude drivers. I always get anxious in the car because of the crazy drivers. I try to do the back roads as much as I can.
So happy you made it back home and still talking to one another.
Take care of yourselves.
I am amazed by many of your Sunday posts. I love how you relate every day situations to the Lord. Things I never would have thought of become so much clearer. Thank you for you enlightening posts. By the way, I too have bad vision in the night and more when you add rain to the mix. I try to avoid it whenever possible.
Wow! I thought I was the only one with problems at night–but I have problems with BRIGHT SUN as well! I always am stunned at my husband’s ability to not wear sunglasses–how do you do it? I ask! Always the same answer–I guess I am used to it.
I just wanted to add a practical tip. I have always had poor night vision. I am very careful to not be in a position when I am on the road after dark, especially when the road may be wet, because the glare of lights reflects, and makes it even worse.
I talk with my Opthomologist about it every year. She said that some people just naturally don’t see well at night. Sometimes it gets worse with age.
Last year she suggested that I drive with my glasses on, not my contacts. She also recommended Lumify eye drops. For some people, it helps reduce night glare. It definitely helps for me. I keep them in my purse, and if I’m going to be driving at twilight, I’ll put drops in before I leave.
I can drive on familiar roads, and around town after dark, but definitely not on the freeway!
I don’t drive well at night either! I love how you tired it into our earthly path and how we all have the light of the savior to guide our path. Thank you for your light and example ❤️
Okay, I can relate to this post so well. This is similar to many conversations with my husband in the car at night. Like you, I can’t see a thing in the dark and don’t like to drive in unfamiliar areas at night. I appreciate how you related the experience to God’s light. So often, I too would love a giant beacon to lead me so I can see everything; however, the Father wants us to trust Him to see and guide us all the way. Thanks for inspiring! Best Wishes! Leigh
I can relate to this 100%! I want to share a story with you. I also have a hard time seeing at night. The instructions from Larry’s cancer doctor is that anytime his temp is above 100.5, I am to call the office. Of course, that usually happens after 9p.m. One particular night, it was raining bad and there was a chance that it would ice over, when I had to make that call. I begged his doctor to not make us go to the hospital, that is 1 hr. away, but my begging didn’t work. I cannot tell you how many mini prayers I said, asking God to watch over us, and to get me to/from the hospital in one piece. Having Him watch over and protect me gave, and continues to give me so much comfort.
I love your blog.
Yes, Tania, I too am no fan of driving at night! My husband and I rarely go out at night anymore. We have a weekend lunch or brunch out instead. Thank you so much for sharing this and the verse and lesson. I truly appreciate it.
You are just so chosen to do this. I was thinking along the same lines yesterday. My husband died in Feb and I’ve had a hard time seeing a future until I realized I know what lies ahead. I just have to follow that light. It leads me home. Thanks Tania.🙏🏻💗
Oh Boy! This story could be about me & my husband. It sounds exactly like some experiences we’ve had with me driving & him directing. He’s hard of hearing which seems to complicate the matter even more.
I am having to drive home in the dark now and it is scary. Thank goodness our Lord is in control.
Bless you Tania! Like you, I cannot see to drive at night and only in an emergency would I attempt it anymore! When you mentioned Abingdon, I realized you’re only a couple of hours away as I live in southwest Virginia as well and nothing is “close”! Love your blog, found you earlier this year!
At a certain age, we all become a little night blind. My bunko group now meets in the afternoon because no one wants to drive at night!
This sounds a lot like me — I need my glasses to drive especially at night and even then I have trouble driving in the dark. One rainy night as I was driving home (with friends in the car!) I realized I didn’t have my glasses – changed purses and of course I was the designated driver! Well, I am writing this to you so you know I reached home but what a ride it was and only By The Grace of God did we get home safely! To God Goes the Glory!! Have a Blessed Day and thanks for Sharing!
I don’t drive at night either. I had the super dooper
cataract surgery which allows me to see without any corrective lenses. However, now when I drive at night, I see an aura when looking at head lights. My husband always drives which I am very thankful for!
Really great illustration! What devotion are you reading?
This could have been me..I have the same issues with night driving and your scenario could have been me and my husband many times. He drives when we go out at night as much because he can see better as he doesn’t drink so designated driver too.
Thank you for that uplifting Sunday message. I can relate because I have trouble driving at night too. Have a blessed day to all.
Thank you for the beautiful encouragement. I’m so thankful for the light of the Lord in my life.❤️
If you’re having a problem seeing at night you might want to get you eyes checked for cataracts. I noticed I had a hard time driving at night all of a sudden. It was cateracts. I’ve had surgery and I can see much better at night.
Maybe you should have a date lunch.
Thank you, Tania. This is just the reminder I needed today. God bless you.
I have one of those passenger seat direction-givers myself! His name is Lee, my husband of 35 years! Ha!
Thanks for this reminder to lean on God for direction in our lives! Have a beautiful Sunday!
Sherry
AMEN🙏🏻
Awesome message, God is so good!!