Hi. My name is Melinda and I’m directionally challenged.
It all started back in the seventh grade in Mrs. Griggs’
class. We were studying the direction of highways and I just didn’t get it. She found it odd that such a simple concept was beyond my
comprehension. I did well in her class in every other area.
I’ve gone the wrong direction too many times to count. It’s
a running joke at my house that if I’m heading to Nashville then I’ll end up at
Percy Priest Lake. Ha! That’s only happened a few
times, though.
Before the GPS, I’d make my husband draw me a map showing me
exactly which road to turn on. Right or left. None of that - North, South, East or West stuff – PLEASE! With his map in
hand, I easily made it to my destination because it was laid out for me in
detail in a simple way that I understood.
My GPS has stopped working so I attempted to use Google
Directions in order to get to a friend’s house last night for a meeting. I put
the address in and headed down the road with no worries of getting there on
time since it was very close to where I live. I’d made an appetizer and it
shouldn’t have taken me over thirty minutes to get there even with school bus traffic.
However, when I first put in her address, I looked at the
map. I felt pretty certain where in the Goodlettsville area her
house was located. So, when the directions had me going the back way, I thought
I’d just drive to the main street in her town and figure it out from there. Big mistake.
I ended up pulled over on the main street trying to
find an address on a building to put into my phone so I could get back on track
again. It was now the time I said I’d be at her house. I would be late. After
two attempts to find my way from my new location using my phone, I grudgingly
dialed my husband, Mr. Google, and asked for help.
“Give me her address,” He said. Then he asked, “Where are
you?” Then I heard a low laugh and he advised me, “You’re way off. You need to
get back onto Long Hollow Pike and head the other direction…” Of course, he
then gave me landmarks to look for and which side of the road to turn off of,
etc. I finally made it to my friend’s house for the meeting.
I would love to blame the issue on Google Directions because
it didn’t speak the directions to me out loud and I didn’t want to be fumbling
with my cell phone while I was driving. But since this has been a lifetime
problem for me, I really can’t blame Google.
But I have to accept the fact that I am direction-ally challenged.
I think everyone is when it comes to getting through this
life. We don’t want to follow directions. We think we can figure things out on
our own and find our way. This is why I’m so thankful for God’s directions He
left for us. I read them. I do my best to follow His direction. Because
without them, I’m LOST. That much I know.
I will instruct you
and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon
you. Psalm 32:8 ESV
PS. I’m also thankful for my husband, Mr. Google. 💜
