Road Signs We Can't Ignore...But Sometimes Do

Our trips, no matter where we travel are accompanied by traffic signs.  We love to hate them, often ignore them, and tolerate them at best.

Life has traffic signs too.  Maybe we should pay attention to both.

Transcript

Hello fellow Sojourners.  I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Travel With A Purpose, a podcast designed to keep Sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

Today we’re talking about something we all see…something we sometimes obey…
 and something we occasionally pretend not to notice.  I’m talking about Road signs.

Now, as we travel down the highways and byways you know that road signs are both helpful… and slightly bossy.  Some we look at as suggestions and others as absolutes.

Speed limits seem like suggestions while warnings like “Detour Ahead” make us aware that our plans are going to change whether we like it or not.

And then there’s the sign we all love to hate:  “Road Work Ahead.”

Which we all know really means: “Prepare to sit in traffic and rethink every life decision that led you here.”

Have you ever noticed how quickly we justify ignoring certain signs? You’re driving along. You see the bright yellow: “Curve Ahead.” You think, I’ve handled curves before. I’ll be fine.  Then very soon we’re gripping the steering wheel like our rig is a sports car.   

 Life has curve-ahead signs too. Sometimes they look like a small warning:

“You’re getting tired.”

“You haven’t called your family in a while.”

“You’re running a little too fast.”

But we tell ourselves, I’ve got this.  Until we don’t.

Now let’s talk about stop signs.  There are two kinds of people in the world:

 The full, complete, tires-stop-moving, count-to-three stop people.

 The “rolling philosophical pause” people. 

You know who you are. You slow down just enough to say, “I’m thinking about stopping.”

 Life has stop signs too.

 Rest.
Reflection.
Repentance.
Recalibration.

Sometimes we treat stop signs like yield signs.  We don’t stop. We slow down just enough to convince ourselves we’ve been responsible.

And then there are detour signs.

Nobody likes a detour sign. We had a plan. We mapped it out. We calculated fuel stops. We packed snacks with precision.  We know the rest stops.

Then: “Detour ahead”  

Detours in travel are annoying.  Detours in life feel personal.

But here’s what I’ve discovered on long trips and in long seasons of life:  Sometimes the detour takes us somewhere we never would have chosen…but later wouldn’t trade.

Some of the most meaningful stops weren’t on the original itinerary.

Then there are those little brown signs you almost miss:

“Historic Site – 2 Miles.”

 “Scenic Overlook.”

Those aren’t warnings.  They’re invitations. But you have to decide to turn.

Purposeful travel means noticing not just the danger signs… but the opportunity signs.

The scenic overlook won’t chase you down. The historic site won’t flash like a warning light. And, the meaningful conversation won’t schedule itself. We have to turn toward it.

So what’s the point?  If we’re honest, most road signs are there for our good.

They protect.
They guide.
They warn.
They invite.

And while this podcast isn’t just about highways and mile markers, the truth is — life has signs too.

Some are obvious.
Some are subtle.
Some are flashing bright orange.

The question isn’t whether the signs are there.

The question is: Are we paying attention?

A final thought:  The next time you’re on the road and you see: “Bump Ahead”— slow down.

When you see: “Merge”— maybe practice that in conversation too.

And when you see: “Do Not Enter” — that’s probably good advice.

Life, like travel, works better when we respect the signs.

Thanks for listening to this podcast.  I invite you to subscribe and share it with others.  I’m your host Dave Laton and remember we glorify God as together we, “Travel With A Purpose”!  Happy Sojourning!