It is Monday morning. Full of energy I leave the house, hop on my bike and head to school. I pedal hard while my mind is already at work.  However, my thoughts are interrupted when I hear a familiar sound. It is neither the church nor the school bell but the warning bells of the nearby railroad crossing. I see some lights flashing as well as two white and red striped gates lowering. Slightly grumpy I get off my bike and wait in front of the closed gates. Impatiently, my eyes wander from left to the right. Here I am, grumbling to myself about the bad timing, having to wait for the entire train to pass and the gates opening again. Meanwhile, I look around me. There are frustrated drivers who have switched off the engines of their cars, walkers who have interrupted their morning stroll and other cyclists who are venting about the loss of precious time. They all want to continue their journey as soon as possible.

I realize that waiting in front of the closed gates is not a loss of time, but they are there to protect me from being hit by the speeding train. Most railroad crossings use warning devices such as the St. Andrew’s cross, flashing lights, warning sounds and gates. Unfortunately, motorists and pedestrians often ignore these warnings. They either go around the lowered gates or they try to race to beat a train to the crossing—sometimes with fatal consequences.

Maybe you are at a personal railroad crossing in your life with closed gates and you are complaining about the bad timing. You wonder why God has placed them in your life, when He has clearly shown you the direction He wants you to go. Instead of quitting, pouting or throwing a fit, maybe you should consider that His purpose may simply be for you to stop, wait, to gather wisdom, get the lay of the land, look around, and move forward when it is the right time. He also wants to protect you from circumstances and events hitting you like a speeding train. Then you will realize that the closed gates are not gates of restriction/limitation but of blessing. Stop and consider God’s wonders.  (Job 37:14)

Manuela DiFranca