Detours and Divine Directions

I’ve spent many summers on the road. It started in the backseat of a big brown GMC StarCraft van, barreling up or down California’s Interstate 5 with my parents and three siblings.

My dad was the king of the road trip. Long before Google Maps, he created his own version of a AAA "TripTik." For the younger crowd: These were spiral-bound booklets from AAA that mapped your entire route, highlighted and ready for adventure.

Dad took it a step further. He’d build a custom binder, tucking each map into a page protector. In the pocket, he’d keep a wax pencil (borrowed from his office) so the designated “child navigator" could mark our progress. He spent hours researching cities and gathering paper maps— this was an era of binders and books, not high-speed data.

Inevitably, we’d hit a detour. Someone would ask, “Are we lost?” Dad would calmly announce, "We’re having an adventure!"

Now that I’m a mom of three boys, I see that phrase for what it really was: a strategic move to keep four kids from losing their minds while he secretly figured out where on earth we were, and did his best to not lose his mind too!

Today, thirty years later, I’m back in the backseat of my dad’s sedan. I am surrounded by bags, cruising down the I-5 toward Southern California. As I watch the golden rolling hills flicker by, I realize how much has changed. We have GPS now. It successfully diverted us through city streets to bypass a wreck — a reroute that was smoother, faster, and much less "adventurous" than the old days.

Yet, sitting here, I’m struck by the constant: We always need a way to navigate the unexpected.

Life loves a detour. We make our plans, prep our binders, and pack our bags, only to find the road blocked by circumstances we never saw coming and can’t control. It’s a comfort to remember that while we might feel lost, we aren't unguided.

Our Heavenly Father is the ultimate Navigator. Through prayer, His Word, and the Holy Spirit, He reroutes us. He sees the traffic jam ten miles ahead that we can’t see yet. We don’t always have control over the destination, but we can trust the One holding the map. Even in the standstill traffic of life, He is with us. We will get there.

Erin Nonaka is an experienced worship leader, Bible teacher, and encourager of women. She loves encouraging & equipping women to do the work God has called them to. Her heart is to see women growing in Christ through community.