Rambling with Ann

By ANN WORTHINGTON

The old car chugged along, taking me on a special day of one adventure after the other. As I traveled along, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.

Speedy cars raced up behind me as if daring me to speed up or be the victim of a few choice words before they reached a spot that would allow them to shoot around me and leave me in their exhaust. But I didn’t care that day because I was deep in thought about where the curves of life can take you.

Cruising along the first curve took me by a rest home – a beautiful, well-kept one at that, and I felt so guilty as I asked myself how many times had I stopped by, visiting with the people there, or even had some of them gather around the piano for an afternoon of singing. I knew how much the fold there enjoyed the sing-a-longs because my Sunday school class visits this particular place the third Sunday of every other month. We enjoy it more than the residents.

Rounding another curve, my eyes left the road and momentarily focused on what I assumed to be a family walking down the street. My thoughts scattered in several directions as I wondered where they were going and if maybe I should pull over and see if I might lend a hand to them and invite them to church.

However, I drove on with mixed emotions of not knowing if I would interfere with a simple family outing.

The old car still chugged along, the radio playing golden oldies with my feeble attempt to sing along and being glad no one could hear me. I didn’t care, though, because these curves of life really had me in deep thought.

Glancing at the car’s clock, the time had passed too quickly on this journey and I knew I had better turn my car in a homeward direction.

I still had one more curve to round and that was the one that took me by my church, Whiteville United Methodist. My thoughts immediately went to the Sunday our youth organized and peformed the service.

How impressive that was as the young people asked us to be role models for them. As I sat listening to them. it proved to me what I had always said, “There is always something good to be found in all young people.”

My final curve that day was taking me home, but as I drove along, I thought about all the curves of life we encounter, some good, and some not so good.

It’s what we do about these curves that counts. The good curves, we can enjoy and be thankful.

The not-so-good, we can learn from them, putting our trust in God, asking for his guidance as we work through trying situations.

Well, my friends, I finally arrived at my home, so I will bring this journey to a close. As you pass through the curves in your life, it is my prayer that your journey will have very few bumps in the road.

As always, until next time, may you be truly blessed.