Interstate Parking Lot

by Barbara Latta

This week I traveled to visit relatives and inevitably I ran into road construction. I don’t think there is a road in the country that is not being repaired or replaced because I find them everywhere I go. 

A little delay is always expected and can be put up with for a time. It’s when it really cuts into our schedule that our patience is tested. I ran into a total resurfacing of a major interstate which caused all traffic to be funneled into one lane. It is August. It was hot. I had a dog in the car with me. Need I say more?

I didn’t know how to take an alternative route so I was stuck. All traffic completely stopped for over an hour. There was nothing to do but put the car in park and wait.

There is a positive. I HAD stopped a few miles back for a restroom break. Thankfully.

It is so easy to become frustrated, irritated, angry and impatient when faced with these situations. I’ll admit I did my share of grumbling. But obviously that didn’t change the circumstances.

So what to do to try to make the best of it?

1.     We can count the dead bugs on the windshield.

2.    Memorize the license plates on the cars in front of us.

3.    Watch cloud formations and decide what they look like.

4.    Read the vehicle owner’s manual.

5.    Find out what’s been stuffed in the car’s console.

The best way to use this wonderful time the Highway Department has given us is to use it to chat with our Heavenly Father and thank Him that we are safe, we are not in an accident, and that the road IS being worked on and will soon be a smooth, hole-free surface to glide on at 70 mph.

While sitting still, that sounds like light speed.

It’s not easy to wait on anything, but if we remember the future benefits, it makes it more bearable.

What have you had to wait on recently and how did you handle it? Share your thoughts.