tunnell vision - opens our hearts!

      ​Tunnel Vision – Opens our hearts!
By Joyce Pelletier
     Exodus 14:21-22 ‘Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right  and on their left.’
 
This summer we had the opportunity to go South for a few days to attend the wedding of our granddaughter. In the process of planning, purchasing tickets, getting everything ready for the journey, our son asked me about different things that might hinder our journey.  
          He asked about borrowing a walker to get around the grounds of the park where we would be for the wedding, dinner and festivities. He found exactly what would work for me. I was so happy about that. Getting around was something I didn’t want to bring trouble or added work for their celebration.
          Then as we talked about the actual journey, Joe asked about tunnels. He kind of knew I am not a fan of them. I started to stress inside thinking about going underground and had moments of anxiety.
          The day came when the first jaunt on 95 came and there was the signs for the Harbor Tunnel through the Chesapeake Bay. I was sitting in the car with my daughter-in-law and She was driving and singing and praying. I took my phone out and decided I was going to fight this little journey under the tunnel. I decided to use my phone and distract the event by taking a picture of it. Then I looked at the road in front of me and  you could see how the pavement was elevating upwards and that indicated to me that the end of the tunnel was ending soon. The lights grew brighter and brighter and then, Nicky and I both recognized the light at the end of the tunnel. We were going to make it through and none the worse for wear.
          To my disappointment, when I looked at the video, I realized it didn’t work. So, I had nothing to look at after the fact. Nicky and I chuckled about it and finished that portion of the journey to Swan Harbor Park, where we would spend the day celebrating a new life starting for our grandchild and her new husband.
          I put it all aside. The day following the wedding we packed our hotel items up, and went to help others empty a camp from where they were staying for the festivities.
          When we finished that, we were on our way back to Southern Maryland and going around the DC area. Before we knew it we were approaching the tunnel to go back. This time, I was ready. I started the phone and as I sat in the front seat, I turned it on about 3 miles before the entrance. I kept it going through the entire part of the 95 and then before I knew it the trip brought us up from the tunnel to the above ground once again. After seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I shut the video off.
         A few minutes later I turned it on and timed the viewing and it turned out from the entrance of the tunnel, to the other side, I read the time and it was 3.4 minutes. I was flabbergasted. This whole worry for nothing journey was so short. It was very humbling and thinking how foolish it was to be so fretful. I looked at the whole time from where I started the video to the other side, and it was not even 5 minutes.
         I could sense God laughing with me as I fretted over this foolish adventure. But, on the other side of the coin, I could see the care in which God helped me to overcome such an adventure. The thought of fretting gets us nowhere. Working through our fears causes us to grow in trust and hope. He helps us through the seemingly impossible situations with his very own hand.
 
          Coming home after this journey, every moment was so embedded in my heart as a memory of our first meeting with our 5-year-old, first great grandchild. Now that is something to write home about. Every moment we spent together was special and the memory stays on the screen of my heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your Paths (even tunnels) straight.
Don’t forget the Light at the End of the Tunnel! He’s there waiting for you!