Have you ever looked back at a series of seemingly insignificant small steps that when observed revealed a noteworthy blessing found in a detour? I’m not talking about really big stuff. There are those kinds too.

I’m thinking more of minor changes in direction. Sometimes we look back at our day and think we derailed on a task or two – or maybe that’s just me. Forgotten focus.

But sometimes those little sidesteps off the straight line that trail off actually lead us onto a trail of blessing.

Searching

So I was searching for something. We’ll say cleaning because maybe that sounds better. While I was looking for a book, I discovered a box of Scripture cards. Greeting cards with lovely images and a Scripture passage on them.

Paused to look

Naturally I paused to look at them because that seemed spiritual. Then I remembered I had wanted to send a thank you card to someone who had done something nice for me. I also thought maybe this person could use some prayer.

I paused again. You didn’t think I’d actually miss this chance to do something for someone else did you?

Something good

Okay, so maybe I used it as an excuse to stop doing something that wasn’t super enjoyable. But I would like to think I did something good in that moment because even though I got distracted, I turned my thoughts toward a friend who could probably use some encouragement. A friend who might enjoy getting a hand written card in the mail letting her know she was being thought of.

I sat down with the box of cards and selected the one that I thought might speak to her. There were three to choose from.

Series of nudges

And I realized this was a series of nudges:

To start a task that led me to a bookshelf

To find a box of cards I had forgotten about, that now had a perfect use 

To think of someone who had done something kind

To consider she might appreciate being thought of

To remember a need for which prayer might be appreciated

To discern which saying might speak to her heart

To find the words to write to her

Little things

All little things. At any point in the process the loop could have been broken, the task abandoned, the nudge ignored. But being open to recognize that maybe this was the Holy Spirit giving me a prompt, an opportunity to do something for someone who might benefit from my follow through on His gentle leading, was a gift.

So I wrote the card then placed it in the mailbox. Remember those?

Opportunity to pause

Then I saw the daffodils in the sun and the little purple flowers by the wooden path. I walked around to admire the tulips and watched a bird or two. I listened to the sounds of neighborhood construction projects and birds singing.

You might call this a detour.  I call it a divine opportunity to pause, breathe, and rest in the beauty of God’s creation.

Listened to a nudge

All because I listened to a nudge to search for something.

God gave me more than I had been looking for. He gave me exactly what I needed.

So where or when have you made a detour and done something following a trail of little prompts?

Observe gifts of God

I don’t always do this sort of retrospection on my day.