Along the Way

DTMBG

It happened again the other day. I had our day planned out perfectly: pick up freight in Ajax, ON. at 04:30; deliver two stops in Montreal by 12:00; back to Ajax by 18:00; be at my brother's home in Whitby, ON. for a family get-together by 18:30. Well, we didn't get back to Ajax until 00:45 the next day! Our freight wasn't ready for pickup in Ajax until 07:00; when we arrived at our first stop there was six trucks waiting to be unloaded; five hours later we were at our second stop in Montreal; and then we contended with Montreal evening rush hour traffic!

This kind of situation has a special reference for us: DTMBG. This is how it all began. About a year ago, we were assigned back-to-back loads from Cambridge, ON. to Lethbridge, AB. and return to Cambridge. This was a windfall: a potential 4,200 miles! We were rejoicing in our financial blessing. Until we received a message that both loads had been cancelled and we were assigned a relay load from our Aberfoyle, ON. operating center to a small town in Massachusetts: one way 440 miles and no return load. The freight was due for delivery to a construction site at 08:00 on Monday morning. This meant that we would drive eight hours and then wait for 20 hours until our delivery appointment. After delivering the cargo we waited another 12 hours for our next load assignment.

I struggled with the lose of a potential $1,200 pay. I was angry with my employer, the customer and other drivers on the road. Then I began to reflect upon what God might be doing in our situation. I remembered a sermon that I had heard on the Desiring God podcast. John Piper was preaching from the fourth chapter of John's Gospel about Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. He said that God had a "million billion reasons" for that appointment. As sovereign Lord of all times and events, he weaves together all of the situations of every single living creature into a beautiful tapestry that brings glory to Himself. My fault is found in focusing only on the single thread that involves my personal interests. God spoke His gentle rebuke to my heart for loving money more than Him. These disordered values are often only revealed when God graciously withholds them from me. He alone is to be my treasure and joy.

And so, whenever our plans are blocked, we use a special reference to remind us that "our times are in His hands" (Psalm 31:15): DTMBG, "Dispatched to Massachusetts by God." He claims ownership over every creature and circumstance, restoring all things to himself for His glory and our good. Or as Abraham Kuyper puts it, "There is not a square inch in the whole dominion of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, 'Mine!'"

The photos above are of us parked at the construction site in Westfield, Massachusetts. As I was looking at the photos I realized that we were parked next to a historical building where they used to manufacture horse whips. The parallel to my situation was incredible: God was graciously disciplining me to keep me on track with His values and purposes. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:4-12).