Are You a Horn Blower?

As you go step by step, the way will open up before you 

(Proverbs 4:12 Hebrew Version)

Construction Zone

Road Work Ahead

Slow Down

Be Prepared to Stop

One Lane

Expect Delays

Signs bearing these messages have become a part of daily life here in the Ozarks.  With the ever-increasing number of visitors and new residents in the area, traffic congestion has made it necessary to widen existing streets  and highways, and build new ones.  

Most drivers seem to accept the resulting delays as temporary inconveniences for much needed improvements.  But occasionally, a driver demonstrates impatient frustration.  Take, for instance, the driver of a large van that was behind me recently.

As we approached an intersection where work was underway ahead, orange plastic barrels barracked the right and left lanes, merging us into the center lane.  Half a block ahead, the light was red when I pulled into line behind several other cars.

In front of us, a large truck was moving slowly along the street, emitting hot, black oil from a row of pipes attached to its rear bumper.  Immediately behind it, a larger piece of road building equipment was laying down a thin layer of chat onto the oil.  Following these, a large roller completed the process, making the new surface immediately drive-able.

Shortly after I had come to a stop, a horn sounded behind me.  Glancing in the rear-view mirror, I realized it came from the van.  Almost immediately, a second honk sounded, louder and more insistent.  I didn't like the delay anymore than anyone else, but under the circumstances, it seemed incredulous to be honking.  Obviously, proceeding was not even an option.

Could the driver not see what was taking place just ahead? I wondered.  Did she think that her horn was going to speed up the work or make the light turn green faster?  Would she even want to drive on the new surface before the last step was completed?  Obviously, the delay was temporary at best, yet she continued to honk.  

After a few more minutes, she began to maneuver the big van back and forth, side to side, until she was able to pull in between the orange barrels, past the vehicles behind us, and speed off in the opposite direction.  She couldn't have gone more than a few cars' lengths when the  equipment continued on down the street, the light turned green and we were on our way.  

Driving on, I thought about her and realized to my chagrin that I often am the one "blowing my horn."  Not the literal one on my vehicle, but on an emotional level.  When I encounter delays of a personal nature, I become impatient, fret and complain.  And I find that I am not alone in this respect.  Impatience seems to be an innate part of our makeup.

We know where we want to go, what we want to accomplish, or who we want to become.  We're on the right "street", moving along at a good pace when all of a sudden we hit an impasse.  Someone or something gets in the way and we are brought to a grinding halt.

When that happens, instead of impatiently "blowing our horn," and maneuvering this way and that to change directions and retreat, the better way is to pray, asking God to remove the obstacle that is blocking the way.  To give us the patience necessary to wait while He accomplishes it in His time and His way. As we wait, we can take comfort in His promises such as Isaiah 49:19 NKJV:

I will even make a road in the wilderness 

When the road signs clearly say,

"Construction Zone Ahead,"

help my body not to tense,

or my heart to fill with dread.

Help me not to look around

for a detour I can take,

and thus avoid the area where

some change You want to make.

Change can be uncomfortable;

for a while it makes things worse,

but help me not to honk the horn,

or throw things in reverse.

Instead to wait most patiently

through each phase of the task.

For when You've finished I will see

improvement's made at last.

And if I want to honk my horn

because it takes so long,

remind me that You are in charge,

and that it's always wrong

to get impatient and upset,

instead of standing by,

observing what is going on,

and understanding why.

So make the changes You see fit;

make me more like You;

smooth the rough spots, fills the holes,

and build me up anew.

Glenda Collins Inman