Stumbling Blocks

I’ve heard it said that stepping stones are stumbling blocks at rest,

And you really can climb over them when you give the task your best.

But how do you know a stumbling block has tumbled past its prime

And left a helpful stepping stone to lift you up this time?

It comes as inspiration, a sudden flash of light

Illuminating corners in the darkest black of night.

It comes as confirmation that you’re traveling the wrong path

That perhaps you’ve not partaken of the gifts the Savior hath.

It comes as balm of Gilead to a hurt and wounded soul

Promising the miracle of a life again made whole.

It comes quite unexpectedly after deep despair

And usually in answer to sincere and humble prayer.

A contrite spirit is required ‘ere the answer will appear

And that can’t be accomplished while harboring worldly fear.

But when it comes you’ll know for sure for gloom will be dispelled

Replaced with calm assurance that in His arms you’re held.

And if you can but just believe the promise that you’ve found

By following His sweet promptings, your life will turn around.

And as you once again step forward following His light

You just may come to realize how far you strayed from right.

For as we know in latter days, this estate is but a test

To see if we will give the Lord our sincere and humble best.

Not all of us will pass this test and some won’t make it home

A risk we knew before we came, that forever we might roam.

But the lessons this test brought to light will surely strenghten you

And prepare your battered spirit for another round or two.

For in the fight ‘tween dark and light, the scramble for your soul,

We musn’t long step off the path lest we fall short of our goal.

So as you use your stumbling block to step back towards His grace

Remember that a stumbling block stays not long in place.

It will move on and tumble off, then come to rest once more;

Becoming the helpful stepping stone your soul was yearning for.

– Barbara A. Holmes ©2010

Red Cadillac

I fell in love with it the first time I saw it on the lot, and one quick test drive was all it took to convince me. This 2002 shiny red Cadillac was my dream car! My hubby tried to interest me in a luxury Kia, but in my eyes there was just no comparison. It didn’t take me long to sign on the dotted line and drive that baby home.

Wrapped in its luxurious plush leather seats, my back didn’t ache like it had for the past couple of years and I quickly became accustomed to the rest of the luxuries that shiny red Cadillac afforded. One push of a button set my seat to the precise spot where I liked it, and opening the driver’s door moved the steering wheel up out of the way and slid the seat back so I didn’t bump my knees. Sporting a top-of-the-line sound system, automatic shades on the back window, heated seats, vanity mirrors for every seat, and fullly automated reclining front seats, this car seemed heaven sent. Why, with an automatic-tilting side mirror and back-up alarms, I didn’t even have to turn my head around to back up any more! Life couldn’t get any better than this.

When the air conditioning went out the day after I bought it, I began to have some doubts. There I was sweating in 90 degree weather and thinking about the Consumer Reports book I had read on used cars. I consider myself to be a savvy shopper, so of course I had looked up the 2002 Cadillac in the used car book before test driving it. I had also looked up the Kia Amanti my hubby wanted me to get. Consumer Reports gave the Kia a wonderful rating (and its 10-year warranty was a plus); but I had ignored the Consumer Reports rating on my shiny red Cadillac. You know, the one that said it had an unreliable cooling system, an unreliable electrical system, and and a host of other unreliable systems.

Ahhh, but driving it was so awesome! And comfortable. And just flat out luxurious. And so I was taken in by the promise of comfort and ease, and convinced myself that the A/C going out was not an ominous sign.