Daily Thought for Monday 4th May 2026
“When Pharoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through Philistine country, though that was shorter.”
Exodus 13:17 (NIV)
Detours and delays
Tom Gordon
The trip to the cottage in the country had been well planned, for the family always went away for the mid-term break. The luggage had been stored safely. Three kids were settled in the back. A husband was “riding shotgun” in the passenger seat with the map on his knee. Everyone was excited. Fifteen minutes into the journey, a plaintive five-year-old voice piped up, “Are we nearly there yet?” Fifteen minutes from cottage would have been fine. But a quarter of an hour into the journey? Now, come on!
And they didn’t expect the detour when the river had flooded a country road. Turn around. Stressful change of plan. Two hours added to the journey. Nightmare! The plaintive cry returned. “Are we nearly there yet?” Aarrgghh! “Not yet, for goodness’ sake!” was a mother’s admonishing response.
Before the guiding cloud or pillar of fire had appeared on their journey out of Egypt, the Israelites had made some lengthy detours. And as the excitement of the journey was overtaken by the drudgery of it, would there not have been some plaintive cries from the back too? “But we want it to be shorter! Are we nearly there yet?” I wonder if Moses ever responded to their grumblings with the ancient Hebrew equivalent of “Not yet, for goodness’ sake!”
On the journey from Easter to Pentecost, “Are we there yet?” could also have been the disciples’ plaintive cry. After all, the Spirit had been promised. They were excited to be on their way, ready to go. So where was this Spirit – right now? Why did they have to endure this kind of journey. Delays; detours; tedium; impatience; questions.
And yet, the journey was so necessary: for understanding; thinking; faith; adjusting; learning about patience – detours, delays and all.
It’s no different on our journey to Pentecost. Of course, like the Children of Israel and post-Easter disciples, we would prefer it to be shorter, easier, more predictable. But let’s be patient enough to still our plaintive cries. For God expects us to use this journey well, so that the destination is all the more appreciated when we get there.
Shall we pray?
God, your ways are often a mystery, and your plans sometimes hard to understand. Grant us patience in our delays and detours. Give us wisdom to use our journey well. Keep us believing in your purpose and guidance. Amen.
Tom Gordon, now retired, is a former parish minister and hospice chaplain, and author of several book on spiritual, faith and bereavement issues. He also publishes a daily blog on https://swallowsnestnet.wordpress.com