“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:19

Having weighed all the options, and while executing the plan I had decided upon, I found myself in the middle a most disagreeable situation. A major traffic jam! My intentions had been good, honorable and even Heavenly minded! But now that I was stuck, and with anger building to a crescendo, I suddenly ‘found myself…’out of my mind!

Take normal City traffic…then add Christmas shoppers, lunchtime, traffic lights and major road construction…and you have the perfect storm for bringing out the worst in people. As usual, I had taken the bait and was in pre-meltdown mode when God, in His still small voice, whispered my name. I almost missed it! Suddenly, I was out of my mind! And just in time!

Joseph’s story, unlike mine, is full of detail without saying much. If TRAFFIC can do this to me, MY reaction to find my fiance pregnant, and not mine, would be outrage! But Joe seemed more calm and logical. He actually CARED about making a scene…and HER feelings! With Joe’s mindful decision made, God whispered his name! THEN Joseph did the unthinkable!

Take normal, throw in unbreakable rules…then break them! Add family pressure, God’s interruption, time and distance, along with the HOST of Angel Warriors, the powers of Hell, squeeze some strangers into the delivery room, and I am grateful to NOT be Joe! But after He got through him, God STILL had Joe’s attention. Now, while sitting in traffic, He had mine too. When He suggested we pass the time and talk, I thought it a marvelous idea!!

With centuries passed since Joseph’s example, can we just call 2020 ridiculous? With riots, covid, shutdowns and a crazy election, most of us can’t wait for it to be over! BUT…based upon what has resulted, could 2021 be worse? I think it could be the perfect storm that brings out the WORST in people. Which leads me to remember Joseph’s world and how God got him out of his own mind, and into His plan!

After switching my attention and getting peace in the middle of yesterday’s storm, I think I might spend the rest of this Christmas season praying more and thinking less!        How about you??