I Could Have Turned Right
A few quick notes before today’s photos and reflection…
Tomorrow (7/15) is our next Pop Culture Pastors Hour conversation - we’ll be talking about epic tales and the “hero’s journey” as a bit of a lead in to talking about The Odyssey in a few weeks. We’ll be talking at 1pm ET and you can find us at pcph.substack.com
I’m deeply grateful for several more requests for photo blessings / bestowals that came in this week. For more about these, you can click here for this new offering I am sharing.
Sunday morning, I could have turned right.
I came to the t-intersection right next to my house and I chose to turn left.
Had I turned right, I would have made my way to one of Scout and my walking places on Sunday mornings and I would have talked through my sermon as I had originally planned it, would have returned home for my Sunday morning yoga time, and then made it to the church right around my normal time.
Had I turned right, my son would not have been woken up by a parent needing a Spanish translator and he would have been awake to go see a movie with us in the afternoon.
Had I turned right, I would not have driven right into the middle of a parable of Jesus.1
Instead I turned left, and less than ¼ mile later, I came across a family whose car’s left side was off the side of our under-construction road.
This reflection isn’t going to tell any more of their story or about what happened immediately after. A public post like this isn’t the place for it but instead I have been thinking the last 36 hours or so about that simple question.
What if I had turned right?
As you are thinking about the directions our lives take us in ways expected and surprising, here are a few other photos from recent days:
And of course, Scout…
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Ed
Luke 10:25-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
He you turned right, your son’s year in Spain would not have proven how wonderful knowing a second language can be. And helped him to realize that often parents turn to a child for help.
Hazel saber lo orgulloso que estas de el. Pero estoy seguro de que tu y los demas se lo han dicho varias veces
Tell him to excuse the lack of correct markings, I don’t have a Spanish keyboard.
This reminded me of an old song by Roy Clark. Right or Left at Oak Street. I once heard it used in a sermon about an Old Testament prophet who could have made a similiar choice in his life and ministry. The song is described in this way..."Right or left at Oak Street" is a famous country music phrase from the 1969 hit song recorded by Roy Clark. Metaphorically, it represents a difficult, life-altering crossroads where one must choose between the courage to stay and face responsibilities, or the courage to run away. https://youtu.be/wckcLamniWc?si=2OUWqma4wgWIjCul