Earlier this week I had a day full of local driving. The area is under construction and this part of town isn’t one I drive often.

Our daughter was at a campus apartment for a ministry meeting and when she finished, I was wrapping up my church event. I told my husband it would be no trouble for me to pick her up.

Well, I thought it would be no trouble!

Due to construction, the lot I use to meet her was closed. She texted several streets to take and I’d be at an alternate lot entrance. Sounds easy but I need a street address/number to plug in my GPS or I’m lost. Add night driving and I rely on my CarPlay map to read the street signs better than the actual ones.

My daughter could not come up with an actual address.

I took a wrong turn and suddenly the vibrant campus part of the city turned into a road with a great history, but also, one in a part of town where violence is known and strangers are not welcome with open arms. To get out of it, I chose a turn that ended up being a dead end where I had to back down. There were people watching me, and I could tell they weren’t sure what I was up to any more than I knew what they were doing.

It took finding a central location with a street address I could plug in to make getting my daughter a success. Once home I got thinking about the extra excursion I didn’t plan on. One wrong turn and things changed, quickly. Although I wasn’t in danger, it’s an area that can be trouble, especially at night.

Isn’t that like life and our choices? How many obituaries have you read where the class valedictorian overdosed? How about the solid married couple where isolation creeps in, an affair starts, and the couple is divorcing?

—Julie Arduini

My husband is very kind when he tells me he doesn’t worry about me because “you’re such a strong woman of faith.” Thing is, I never want to ride on that label. I’m tempted like anyone else. I could veer off the straight path and find trouble fast. I’ve watched it, and those wrong turns affect everyone. And that sweet whisper that says how amazing that choice would be never shares the dire consequences.

Just like finding my daughter, I want to stay plugged in (the Bible) and stay in that central location (the will of God) for success. Even in the construction mess and night I was able to locate her with ease.

If you’ve made choices that have you in a bad place, you can get out of there. Go to God. I promise His arms are open and He’s ready and willing to forgive and make your path straight. You need to make the turn.

I hope you do!