I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed (read: dragged myself out of bed and chugged coffee) for my 8:00 class. Today, however, I had an interview following the class, so I dressed up in my best suit and plastered on my "Please Give Me A Job" smile. An accurately forecasted day of 50 degrees under an overcast sky greeted me for my morning walk to campus. I enjoyed a fiery morning sky stretching above the stadium, and I thanked God for the beauty in this world. After struggling through class, I caught up with a classmate headed to the same interview location on the other side of the campus. Thus began my public transportation adventure.
I have never utilized the bus system in my entire career as a college student (and after today, I probably will never use it again). The ride was very easy and flawless to the career center with Michael as my escort. I naively thought that I could have the same easy ride home on my own. The ultimate goal was to save time and energy instead of walking. My interview went swimmingly, and I trekked to the bus stop to catch a ride back to Holden Hall where I could catch a bus to the apartment.
I caught some intense stares from strangers while boarding the bus, but I attributed that to my stunning good looks and my suit. Come to find out, it was most likely because I had "Bloody Idiot" written all over my face. I spent twenty minutes riding around the farthest parts of campus because yes I, Courtney the genius, had gotten on the wrong bus. Eventually, the bus took me to Holden Hall. I thought, YES! It took me a while, but I got to my intermediate destination.
In high spirits, I grabbed a seat on the bench to wait for the "Special" bus to the apartment. Time slowly ticked by, and I eventually realized that the bus that just left had been by once already. This is when I started to get suspicious. I decided to wait for ten more minutes, just in case. Unsurprisingly, the bus I intended to get on never came. I decided to just walk home after wasting twice as much time as it would have taken to walk in the first place, destroying my goals to save time and energy.
As I walked home, I mulled over the metaphor-ing God was doing through my adventure.
1) I thought that I could do on my own what I really could only do with the help of someone who knew what to do. Too often in my walk with Jesus, I overestimate my abilities and take matters into my own hands. I end up frustrated and on the super long scenic route to the intermediate place I needed to go.
2) I had gotten on a bus that was always intending to go to the right place but through a longer route. After getting to said intermediate location, I lay aside my frustrations and pat myself on the back for getting there on my own accord instead of thanking God when it was His direction all along.
3) With the best intentions and plans laid out, I sat patiently waiting on the bench for a ride to my ultimate destination. As I waited, I thought that God was teaching me to wait patiently and trust that the bus will come. I WAS WRONG. On my walk home, I realized that the bus was never intended to come where I was waiting.
How often do we wait with good intentions thinking we are obeying God? How often do we waste time on what we think is the right decision?
I thank God for humbling me continuously and reminding me that apart from Him, I can do NOTHING. I can't even ride the bus for Pete's sake!
Thank you God :)
xoxox
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