Pastor Ron Burcham

Spring is in the air and Orange Pylons are in full bloom. They are popping up all over the East Valley. The symmetry of their growth gives the impression that someone carefully placed each one in its proper place – amazing! There are several varieties, but my favorite is the famed Orange – Black Strip – Flashing Red Light barricade!

I have noticed that they seem to grow on the roads that I travel the most, which is nice since I get to see them every day, but I need to be very mindful that I don’t run over one of these beauties. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is they are a protected species, since the DOT seems very hesitant to remove them. Often times I see a patrol car positioned next to them, evidently to make sure no one causes harm to nary a one of them.

No doubt you also have seen the Orange Pylons of every variety that the DOT uses to reroute traffic. Road construction and repair seems to be happening on every road in the East Valley. If you are like me all of the road construction can get, well, rather annoying. I just want to get from point A to point B and not have to go through a slalom course of blinking red lights. Don’t get me wrong, I will like all of the improvements once the work is completed. I just don’t like having to deal with all of detours, lane shifting, etc. that happens in the process.

The same could be said of life. There are times when we get rerouted. We had life planned out: a successful career, wonderful family and finally a relaxing retirement. Then the barricades go up and life goes in a different direction; everything from your career tanking, children going rogue, or the retirement savings dwindling. Life never, and I mean never, turns out like we think.

What I have noticed is that some of what I would call the worst moments of my life have actually been a turning point for some of the best things in my life to happen. Not always – some events are just bad. Some are even horrible. Through it all I have tried to rely on the promises of God. Promises that say that even during rough parts where I have been “rerouted or taken on a detour,” that God has my best interest in mind and that He will bring good out of the bad.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3 NLT)

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Going through the construction is never enjoyable, but once completed, it sure is nice.

Risen Savior Lutheran Church; www.rslcs.org.