The theology of dead ends

Friday saw the longest run of the year - just over 7 miles. I followed Sharon and was so glad that she was there to pull me on. This was actually my second run that week, Sharon and I were joined on Wednesday by a Cranbrook resident (the first of many we hope!) for a lovely 3 mile run in the dark and rain.

The picture to the right is of Redhayes bridge, the pedestrian crossing over the motorway, this was more of less the half way point on the run. Before we got there we ran down the road that will one day lead to Cranbrook's new town centre, we had to turn around because the road currently comes to an abrupt end. We also started to run towards the new road tunnel by Clyst Honiton, we had to turn around there as well when one of the builders asked us to go back because it wasn't ready for pedestrians yet.

So two dead ends and a bridge.

I am minded of the fact that it wasn't so long ago, before the Redhayes bridge was built, that it too would have been a dead end. What is the difference between a dead end and a bridge? Well there could be several answers but in all three of the 'junctures' I encountered the only difference is 'time' - sometimes, in order to continue, you just need to wait. Patience is more than a virtue here, it is a method too.

Of course waiting is rarely easy, we sometimes have to wait for mundane things like: - waiting for Friday to come, or waiting for our holidays, or waiting in the queue for a bus. Other times waiting is more challenging - waiting for doctor's result, waiting for an op, waiting for our children to grow out of a bad habit or even grow up! Sometimes the waiting is towards the ends of our lives or watching someone we love slip away.

The problem with many dead ends is that we try to bulldoze our way through or spend too much energy trying to find the long way round. Sometimes the best answer is to sit and wait, or turn around and come back later, allow the dead end to be just that unless one day a bridge opens up.

I am reminded of these words from the Bible:

'Those who  wait for the LORD will renew their strength.

        Then they’ll soar on wings like eagles;

                     they’ll run and not grow weary;

                                 they’ll walk and not grow tired.” (Isa 40:31)