Leaves of Faith

As dusk fell, the dusty road looked uncomfortably lonely. As it started to rain, the anxiety levels in the vehicle began to rise. Before long this section of the road was going to turn into mud. The journey from the capital city to the new home in the country was proving to be a trying one. It was a tricky trip to make at the best of times. One thing had led to another, and the early start had turned into a late getaway. The driver insisted that all would be well. The family, on the other hand, was skeptical. But he was an experienced driver who had survived many difficulties on these dangerous roads. Their skepticism had given in to trust. And that was all that was needed. This journey was usually straightforward. It had begun two years earlier in Chicago. After many years of running their own business, Mr. and Mrs. Adams decided that retiring in Africa as farmers/landowners was a good idea. The children had grown up and left home, so they built their beautiful dream home for two in the centre of their acreage. Mr. and Mrs. Adams had been down to supervise the house as the build progressed, and now that it was complete with some locals working on the farm, it was time to move. For the first time, their three children were going to accompany them on the trip to their new home and spend the summer vacation with them to help them get settled. Each time they had visited before, they flew into the capital and hired the trusted driver to drive them the 120 miles to their country home. During this trip, however, there was one unforeseen snag. Though they had made this journey multiple times, they had never made it at night during the rainy season. Visibility was poor due to the pouring rain and a lack of road lighting, which made this three-hour journey seem like the eternity. During those hours, thoughts of regret fuelled by fear were constantly buffeting the family. The joy of retiring in this place was a fading shadow in comparison to the relative comfort and safety of the familiar surroundings they had left behind. They began to wonder whether this whole dream was a good idea at all. As they battled these thoughts in silence, suddenly they could see the lights of the home they had built in the distance. At last! Joy overwhelmed them. Sometimes our Christian experience can feel like that. God never promised you a smooth ride. He promised you that He will see you through. The Holy Spirit is that confident driver. He will get you there. Hold on and don’t give up. And whatever you do, do not look back!