Heeding Advice

July 4th we headed to Deer Park to spend time with family.  Our nephew has recently moved to a new house so Larry used Google Maps to find the best way to get there.  The directions said to take 610 N which was going in the opposite direction of where we needed to go.  With torrential rains falling, we continued down the road we were on without heeding the supposedly wrong advice.  What we didn’t realize was that with the amount of rain that had fallen there was a flash flood ahead and all traffic had now come to a halt with no place to go.  Google Maps knew what we were not aware of yet.  Traffic was slow and then for 45 minutes we sat at a complete standstill on the freeway, in bumper to bumper traffic, with nowhere to go.

We had seen some emergency vehicles along the way, but nothing recently.  Fortunately, we were in the far left lane next to the shoulder.  After almost an hour we saw a City of Houston vehicle, with flashing lights, going the opposite way down the freeway on the emergency lane.  After a few minutes, we saw some cars turning around and following the SUV.  Since we were in the far left lane, we decided that would work for us, too.  Larry proceeded to turn the car around as did Chad who was following us.  We went a few miles down the freeway and realized it was now closed off to traffic due to the flooded underpass.  There were several 18-wheelers who had backed up some which allowed us to cross over all four lanes and u-turn into an opening on the freeway that merged onto 610 N.

We would have been better off to heed the advice we had been given in the first place and not assume that we knew best for what was ahead.  At the same time, we were relieved and blessed to have a way out provided, if we were willing to take the risk.  When it was time to return home, Larry once again checked Google Maps and this time heeded its advice.

It’s important to choose sources that are reliable and trustworthy.  God has given us His Word, Jesus, and His Spirit to prompt, lead, and guide us in the right direction.  Now it’s time to listen, obey, and heed the advice.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 13:10

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Proverbs 19:20

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32