Let me tell you about my first attempt at following my brother into dental school. There I was, sitting in Organic Chemistry at Pasadena City College, convinced I had my whole life figured out. My brother was already a successful dentist, and I thought, “Why not follow in his footsteps?” Seemed logical enough.
Well, let’s just say Organic Chemistry had other plans for me. It didn’t just suggest I might not be cut out for dentistry – it screamed it from the rooftops! You know that moment when you realize you’re completely on the wrong path? That was me, staring at molecular structures that might as well have been hieroglyphics.
Here’s the thing about life’s detours though – they often lead us exactly where we need to go, even if we can’t see it at the time. After my brief flirtation with dental school, I found myself helping a friend repair a vintage Piper Cub airplane at El Monte airport. There, up to my elbows in grease and aircraft parts, something clicked. The sky called to me in a way that molars never did.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Looking back now, I can trace God’s hand through every twist and turn. From aviation to construction, from manufacturing to ministry – each “detour” was actually part of the main road. Even the failures (and trust me, there were plenty) served a purpose I couldn’t see at the time.
Remember Heads Up Inc.? We had it all – 300 employees, contracts with Sony, success beyond my wildest dreams. Then the market crashed, and it all crumbled. I spent countless nights asking “Why, God?” But you know what I should have been asking? “What are you preparing me for?”
That’s the secret, by the way. When life throws you a curveball, stop asking “why” and start asking “what.” What are you learning? What is God showing you? What doors might this closed one lead to?
For me, every business success and failure, every triumph and setback, was preparation for something I never saw coming – helping ministry leaders find their way through their own detours. But I had to let go of my plans to discover God’s purpose.
Maybe you’re in the middle of what feels like a detour right now. Your plans have hit a wall, your path seems blocked, and you’re wondering what went wrong. Can I share something I’ve learned? Sometimes our “wrong turns” are actually God’s right ones.
Here’s what I want you to try this week: Instead of fighting against your current situation, ask yourself, “What might God be preparing me for?” Look for the lessons, the growth, the unexpected doors that might be opening.
Remember, detours aren’t always setbacks – sometimes they’re setups for something better than we could have planned. Your dental school might be waiting to show you your airplane, so to speak.
Share with me – what “detour” are you navigating right now? How might God be using it to shape your future? Let’s walk this road together, knowing that sometimes the longest way around is actually the shortest way home.