Yesterday after lunch, I was seeing a patient not far from my home, so I had a general idea of where I was going. I still went ahead and plugged the address into my phone though, because I’d need the details once I got closer. I began driving down Metro Parkway, and Siri told me to stay there for two miles and then turn on Garfield, but that’s not nearly as pretty a drive, especially this time of year, as driving down Millar Road. So I went out of my way and turned and chose the winding two lane road where trees whose colors are changing line the street. Siri would not stop telling me to “Return to the route. Return to the route. Return to the route.” In fact, I’m convinced she got louder, the further away I drove from the route she thought I ought to take. So I yelled at her. I did. I yelled at a fake person named Siri. She is NOT the boss of me!
Eventually, Siri and I picked back up about 1/2 mile from my patient’s home, and she kindly gave me the rest of the directions. (By the way, can Siri be kind if she’s not a real person? Just wondered.)
I took the same route home, this time without asking Siri for the details because I knew where I was going. The wind had picked up. Some of the leaves were falling. I slowed down and watched them and my day dreaming self began to do just that – day dream.
No one would disagree that the world is a mess right now. But people spend so much time focusing on what’s wrong, what they are not allowed to do, where they can’t go, who they can’t see….. But what if… What if this is the last transition from summer to spring we ever have? What if three months from now, we’re truly confined to our homes? Who would you wish you’d have visited? What would you wish you’d have done? What if our technology and all means of communicating with those outside of the four walls of our home is taken away? Who would you wish you’d have spoken with? Spent time with?
Siri wants me to go in one direction, and it’s true. I might get there faster. But I’d miss those trees on Millar and Moravian if I did that. So no, Siri – I will not return to the route. I’m going to talk to those I’d miss, see those I love, and do what I’d regret not doing.
I’m headed out for an outdoor morning with girlfriends, and tonight I’m star gazing with my sister. We are not going to be in a hurry, and I’m not sure where we’ll wind up, but be quiet, Siri. We’ll find our own route. You’re not the One who orders our steps, and you’re not the boss of us.
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
What a beautiful perspective.