A couple of weeks ago as I was driving to Atlanta to meet with my Spiritual Director at The Ignatius House, I had an experience that became “grist for the mill” for my time with my Spiritual Director. I was driving along feeling pretty good about myself because I had left home in plenty of time. Even in the face of coping with the Atlanta morning traffic snarl, I was about five minutes from my destination with twenty minutes to spare. Those who know me well know that this is an exception!

However, as I turned off I-285 and proceeded down Riverside Drive, suddenly I came to a roadblock with a sign “Detour for Construction”! Since I was ahead of schedule, I was not shaken by this, and I turned right and followed the detour signs through a neighborhood, accessing Riverside Drive from the other direction. It was a different matter when I reached the intersection of Johnson’s Ferry Road and Riverside Drive and encountered another roadblock, the construction blocking Riverside Drive clearly visible! Now what?! I proceeded on, contemplating my next step as I crossed the river. This was getting serious! Many thoughts raced through my head. Here I have driven an hour and a half to keep my regularly scheduled appointment. If the road is closed to Ignatius House, why didn’t someone call and tell me? I had some other things I could have done this morning rather than drive around in Atlanta traffic half the day! This is not helping my spirituality!

Then a strange thought entered my mind. Why not call the center and ask them what to do? I pulled in to an office complex and parked to make the call. (Yes, I really did!) The receptionist asked where I was and kindly offered me a clear explanation about how to turn around, go back to another road that would take me to a section of Riverside that was open to local traffic, which would put me one block from the center. I arrived with enough time to spend a few moments in quiet before my appointment.

To me this situation truly offered me a helpful cause for spiritual reflection regarding following the way of Christ. You see, I am very averse to stopping to ask for directions, as are many men. I have been known to drive on the wrong road for an hour, totally lost, resisting the pleading of my wife to stop and ask for directions. It reminded me of the story of a couple on vacation traveling through a major city. As they leave the city, the wife discovers that they took the wrong exit and are traveling on a highway taking them away from their destination. She says to her husband, “John, I think we’re on the wrong road.” His response is, with a broad smile, “No problem, we’re making great time!”

Why do I/we have such a problem asking for help? Perhaps it has something to do with ego, independence, even possibly stubbornness!? However, acknowledging our ultimate dependence on God, and letting go of the idea that we, rather than God, are in control is at the core of spiritual growth. Hey, maybe I’m beginning to get the hang of this “spiritual growth” thing…but then again, I better acknowledge that I’m still on the way there!

Ken Meeks, Jr.