Have you ever looked at something without really seeing it? (If you're nodding yes, me too). I admit I've done it many times. For example, yesterday, with my morning coffee in hand, I stepped onto the patio to join my husband at the picnic table. I hadn’t noticed that he’d moved the patio umbrella and rearranged some of the furniture on the patio.  (I thought I was awake, but as I looked, I only saw what my mind believed rather than seeing what was there).

One time, someone asked me about the decor of the building where I'd worked for years. I'd seen the same rooms and the same hallways every day, and do you think I could remember the details of the wallpaper, the color of each of the rooms, the wall decor, or the tiles? There were a number of details I'd missed. The same goes for noticing other details: the name of the clerk at the checkout counter, or remembering what a friend was wearing when we met for lunch earlier? Or, how often do we get in our car, travel the same route, and not see what is around us?

A few days ago, my husband and I traveled to the mountains on a road we'd taken many times. However, due to active construction, the traffic traveling in our direction was stopped for 20 minutes. I joked that we were taking the “scenic” route, but that was precisely what had taken place. 

With the cool temperature in the low 70s, we rolled down our windows as we waited. But instead of merely “looking” at the forest surrounding us on both sides of the road as we usually did while driving,  we had an up-close view of things we didn’t usually notice. Pinecones of all sizes were scattered across the forest floor. We marveled at the way the pine needles on the Ponderosa Pines were sectioned and the way the needles slanted in the same direction. Some branches were grayish-black in color; others were fully needled and sprinkled in greenery. A Blue Jay swooped down onto a branch, cackling, it's dark blue feathers two-toned. A striped chipmunk scampered to the top of a fence post, nibbling on a nut or some other lucky food find. A swift, cool breeze swept through our car windows as pines swayed, the scent of fresh pine filling our nostrils. 

Between the treetops, variegated rays of sunlight danced upon the forest floor, and illuminating the bright greenery of the moss on the logs and rocks. In contrast, the bright colors were well-defined by dark shades of grayish-chestnut of the bark of the pine trees. We closed our eyes, invigorated by the fresh mountain air. 

We were still stuck in place in traffic; however, by taking notice of our senses, we took in so much more than usual. When the traffic delay ended, we almost wished it would have lasted longer to bask in those moments of peaceful relaxation. Within minutes, we were back on the road, traveling the speed limit through the forest-lined highway. 

The 20-minute delay felt like a hidden blessing. If we hadn’t had to stop for construction, we would have missed the up-close, scenic rest time.

A delay could have been inconvenient for someone in a hurry to arrive at their destination. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for us, and the stop proved to be a mini detour that brought us moments of wonder, relaxation, and joy.   

The next time you are faced with a delay, hopefully it won't be when you are in a big hurry. Instead, I hope that it will offer you time to reflect on the hidden blessings that surround you—the things that often go unnoticed in the busyness of life.    
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"God looked at all he had made, and he found it very good." - Genesis 1:31
 
Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com 

"Uh-oh!" I turned the key in the ignition, but the Jeep wouldn't start. Dead battery!  I grumbled. Such timing. I'd miss an appointment.   

By the end of the day, that wasn't the only "Uh-oh." I put leftovers in the microwave and pressed "Start," but nothing happened. Great. Broken microwave.
  
To top that off, the following day the dryer quit: the drum was spinning, but there was no heat. I dragged the heavy basket of wet clothing to the garage, and found a way to create a makeshift clothesline. 

All the "Uh Oh's" were broken things. At least they can be fixed, I thought. Despite grumbling, I had answers for dealing with these inconveniences.  

But what happens when the "Uh-ohs" are not just things that are broken, but instead are part of the ourselves that feel broken? Throughout our lives, we experience losses, both big and small. Some  things break us down or cause us to feel sad, vulnerable, or alone. Like a dead battery, there is no good time to feel broken.     

But there is a way to look at our circumstances in a different light. For example, take the word, "Uh-oh." Now let's take it apart. The "Uh" is the part of the phrase where we realize something has changed, is out-of-place, or different than it was. The "Oh!" is when we discover the answer or a way to fix the problem—it is the remedy.    

The question of "What shall we do?" has been a common denominator for God's people throughout the ages. The remedy for personal brokenness is not easy or simple; however, answers can be found—through the eyes of faith and the assurance of God's promises. A few verses follow as examples for comfort and help:   

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings." - Hebrews 10:22
 
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." - John 5:24

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Whenever you have an "Uh-oh" moment, whether big or small, may you smoothly ride the waters of uncertainty and find the "Oh!"—the answer, the remedy for which you are searching.

​(And may the inconvenience of a dead car battery or broken appliance feel like a mere small setback in the big scheme of things!)  
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Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com