The Milwaukee Metaphor

It takes a while to travel with children.
One endures stops and starts
snacks and potty breaks.
By the time we reached Milwaukee coming home from Minneapolis
it was midnight.

We narrowed ourselves to one lane of traffic
snaking our way through road construction.
Suddenly a police car swooped in behind us and stopped
cutting us off from Forrest
and everyone else who was behind us.

We inched our way toward Milwaukee for a while
then sped on
frantically looking for signs
none of which pointed the way to Chicago.
Somewhere around the Milwaukee port
we exited
with Sadie wailing in the back of the van.

no gas station
no restroom in sight
in this neighborhood of small frame houses
asleep until morning.
Sadie tee-teed on someone's front lawn,
then climbed in the car
and fell fast asleep.

We finally found the detour
and with great vigilance
followed the signs
until they led us safely through the maze
and ultimately to home.

Through all the twirling around that dark night
we kept talking to Forrest on the cell phone
until he too finally landed beside us in the garage.

Forrest says this particular adventure
is a metaphor for Emi's life right now.
She's in the throes of a divorce
seeking divine guidance
and signs pointing the way
through the chaos
as we did that balmy night in Milwaukee.

Her life has taken an unexpected detour.
She's in the driver's seat
caring for her crying children
with aging parents in tow.

i think it's a metaphor for me as well
in guiding my church
and preparing for my year as moderator of the Presbytery.
There will be roadblocks
and unexpected detours.
God provides the signs to guide us
and calls us to be vigilant and mindful.
God will also lead us safely home.

In the end,
it's all about faith,
trusting God
enduring the discomfort
and knowing
deeply
that all is well
and all will be well.