Yesterday was a great day! I decided to go with a friend of mine to Tahoe to look at the beautiful lake and spend hours under the stars using a telescope to view the heaven’s above. Sounds great doesn’t it; a day at a lake with a friend and the beauty of all creation surrounding you. The wonder, amazement, and the simple awstruck, at how the world could be created in such majesty filled my soul, but it did not start out that way. On the way to Tahoe everything was going as good as can imagine. We avoided certain traffic by taking side-roads throughout Sacramento. As we arrived back on the freeway there was a lot of traffic behind us and somewhat-mobile traffic ahead of us. To my left on the other side of the freeway, I was saddened to see a car accident scene; the car had been engulfed in flames. My concern and prayers immediately was with those who had been involved with this accident.
Soon we were off on the road on our daring afternoon journey to reach the lake. We decided to stop for an early dinner at the KFC in Placerville and had a terrific dinner. In as little as 20-minutes our excitement led us back onto the road toward Tahoe. We approached the intersection and the light turned green. “This is it, we are really going to do this and with impecable timing,” I thought to myself! “Put, put, put…” said Big Blue. You see, Big Blue is the name for my truck, because I drive a Ford Ranger XLT that is blue and my friend drives a Ford F-150 that is the identical big brother twin of my Ranger. So to be nice and to make Big Blue feel like he was just as great, I began calling him Big Blue. So Big Blue broke down, right in front of the light! Embarrased and not knowing what to do I sat there trying over and over to start my truck, but nothing happened. Soon a man from the bail bond shop, which was located in back of us came and pushed the car back into his parking lot. Thank you, Bail Bondsman!!! It may seem like the story ends there, but it doesn’t. I was given very grave news about Big Blue, but I did not give up on him, so I asked for a second opinion. The second AAA truck came and helped me by agreeing with me that the battery had just died, so he gave me a jump and I headed down to the local Walmart to get a new battery.
We began our journey again, after a short pit stop. We are heading up the mountain when all of the sudden I see something dart out in front of me. My heart sank and my foot breaked immediately, as I realized what it was right away. I hit a deer — Bambi! My heart was racing a mile-a-minute and so was the deers, luckily! Quickly the deer got up and ran away, and my friend and I gathered ourselves and made it up to a gas station about 20-miles up the road, where we checked for car damage. We were blessed for a few reasons, (1) I was driving below the speed limit, (2) I always scan for dangers when I am driving, and (3) I was able to stop hard enough and quick enough to just stun the deer and keep us all safe. I must admit I must be careful when driving through to Tahoe again, because I know this deer had to be pretty young and his mother will not be too happy with me, but in all it was an accident, so I am sure she will understand.
In leadership and in life, sometimes things just do not go the way we have planned. Circumstances arise. It is important to know how to keep going and how not to give up. During our trip I told me friend, “if we hit one more animal we are heading back home.” Yes, many things happened to detour us from our detination, but we kept pursuing the goal, which we had laid out. Maybe in your leadership you have hit walls and you do not know if it is worth heading forward anymore. You may be ready to give up, but that can be a great place to be! I told my friend “when bad things happen, just wait something really good is coming!” The same is true in leadership, we may have to course correct at times, but stay true to the vision that has been laid out and see what good things are getting ready to happen. It is good to know when to give up, but it is also good to know when not to give up. For us not giving in meant seeing the wonder of nature, relaxation and peaceful moments.
It is no wonder why Scripture proclaims,
“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory” (Psalm 50:15, NLT, 1996).
References
Holy Bible: New Living Translation. (1996). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
