“Perhaps some detours aren’t detours at all. Perhaps they are actually the path”. (Katherine Wolf)

I’ve been thinking a lot about my sister, Sue, this week. You see - today she turns 80! Her “fourscore” has arrived. She was born right at the end of the second world war - the third child to our parents - six more children would complete our family over the next 13 years - me - being the last! Being the youngest in our great big family - I’ve watched the lives of my siblings unfold - I’ve watched their comings and goings - their ups and downs - their gains and losses - their joys and sorrows - their straight and narrows - their wide detours. I’ve had the benefit to learn and grow with them and because of them.

Sue and Harry and their family have lived great adventures. In their early days of marriage - they worked at private colleges - where Harry taught and Susan nursed. Later, Harry pursued his calling into the local church ministry and that path led them to the Parry Sound area. Harry pastored and Sue continued in her nursing career in a doctor’s office. For twenty - five years +, Sue was a beacon of strength to her patients - exhibiting kindness and grace and love. (Fun fact! Sue worked for a doctor - D.C. - who is the father of my daughter-in-law, Jen. Her dad quoted at the time when Jen told her parents she was newly dating - “any nephew of Susan Kleinhuis must be a good man!” Thanks Sue)

Harry and Sue were expecting their second child in the summer of ‘69 - living near Edmonton, Alberta. Dad and Mom told us kids (Phil, Tim and I) - pack your bags! We’re driving west this summer. What an adventure. What a long car ride. I spent most of it lying on the back window ledge - staring at the great, big sky. (No seatbelts in those days). We left Cornwall on a beautiful - summer July morning - and drove to Sault Saint Marie - where we camped at Pancake Bay on Lake Superior. The rain started before the campfire was out - and rain it did - hard - all night - everything was soaking wet. The next morning I remember sitting in the car while Dad and Mom packed up the tent trailer - because that’s what parents do. We were off for Day Two. We had driven north for about an hour or two (in the driving rain) when the traffic came to an abrupt stop. Nothing was moving. And then - we saw that cars were turning around and heading south. The culprit - a washed out bridge. No one would be moving north that day nor for several weeks until that bridge was repaired. Dad turned the car and tent trailer around and back to the “Sault” we went - crossed the bridge to the USA and travelled west that way.

My first detour in life. I watched my parents take the change of plans in hand - perhaps frustrated at first - but then - taking it all with great grace - restraint and acceptance. A lesson that I needed to learn early in life because I would certainly face my own detours in the years to come.

Many, many years later - after graduating from Seminary (both Randy and I finished our undergraduate degrees in 1980) - after pastoring in our first church for almost eight years - after the birth of our three sons - after pastoring our second church for eleven years - we would soon receive a call from a church in Cambridge to begin our ministry there. We moved our three teen-aged sons to this new location - fully expecting to have a long, wonderful experience.

(Caution - Detour Ahead!)

Fifteen months later - we were voted out - let go - fired! It seemed like a bad dream. A nightmare really. We weren’t wanted. The church was dumping us. To this day - the reasons seem so lame. None - the - less - the church called a “confidence vote” and we didn’t get the necessary percentage to continue. (Not that we have wanted to with only 60 % of the church in our corner). Our sons were in grade 9, 10 and 11 at the time and they were rockstars through this whole experience. The kids were so supportive to us. Our friends and family stood with us. Detour. Not what we expected. Not what we wanted. Not what we had planned. My only prayer at the time was for our boys! How I prayed they would not be disillusioned with the local church. I loved the church - I still do. It has stood strong and firm for 2,000 years and continues to today. It’s just that - sometimes people get in the way of things that are really good. That detour led to another opportunity for ministry in the same city - where we prospered - where we encouraged men and women and children - where our sons thrived - and we grew in grace and wisdom and forgiveness.

“God is more interested in your development than your arrival. He cares more for your character than your comfort - your purity than your productivity.” (Dr. Tony Evans)

I absolutely love a particular story in the Bible - it’s found in John 4. Jesus and His disciples were on their way back to Galilee and it’s reported that Jesus took a major detour. "Now He had to go through Samaria”. Most everyone at that time knew that “respectable people” avoided Samaria. It was a rough area - the “other side of the tracks” kind of place - but someone was waiting there - someone who needed the Saviour’s touch - someone who needed to hear about “the living water” - someone who lived a life of shame - a life where others avoided her - she needed someone to be nice to her - and it would be Jesus. That detour led to a changed life. For the Woman at the Well - what first appeared to be a detour by Jesus, was indeed the most enriching experience of her life. She was forever changed.

In the last ten days or so - a detour has come my way. Mostly everyone who knows me - knows my passion is pickle ball - but you can’t play pickle ball if you have a “knife” sticking in your knee - at least that’s what it feels like. So I’m taking some time off! I’m on the couch - icing - resting - physio - trying to heal. I’m hoping and trusting this detour doesn’t last too long! I miss my pb friends. I miss the activity. I miss the adrenaline rush. But - I’m embracing this time - with grace and patience. I will heal.

Where I am today is no accident. God is using the situation I’m in right now to shape me and to prepare me for the place He wants to bring into tomorrow. I must trust Him with the plan.

My Dad once told me - “Martha - enjoy the journey - including the detours - just to arrive at the destination!” I hear you loud and clear - Dad! I’m listening. I know there is a lesson in here somewhere and I don’t want to miss it.