When the "New" becomes the Familiar

For the past couple of days I've found myself "zoning out" while driving. You know the sensation. You are driving along and then all of a sudden you find yourself at your destination and realize you "missed" a whole chunk of the drive. As if you were driving on autopilot.

I'm not sure if this is a dangerous phenomenon or not, but I have to tell you, I was so excited when it happened this week.

Why? Because it is the first time it has happened since I moved to California.

The past several months have been filled with learning road names and visual clues as to where I am going. Using the GPS and paying close attention when Randy drives (not that this is very helpful, because as a "local" he knows 12 different ways to get wherever we are going). I have had to mentally think about whether Walmart is towards Reno or Sacramento. If the mall is north or south on 65. And if there are any turns to get to church.

Nine months ago I would never have dreamed that I'd be so confident in my ability to find my way that I'd have these moments where I didn't even have to think about where I was going. I would simply get in the car and go.

It's a reminder to me that whatever situation we find ourselves in, however lost or disoriented we feel, however discouraged or overwhelmed, those feelings won't last forever. The job that is filled with new tasks, I will someday be a "pro" at. The street names will one day be on the tip of my tongue. The relationship that is difficult will not always be so hard.

That is -- as long as we stay the course.

Because we do always have the option to give up. To quit the job or the relationship or the new city. To never leave the house or refuse to take on new tasks or fail to communicate. But then we'll never know the satisfaction and encouragement of pushing through those hard times and entering in to a season of comfort and familiarity and blessing.