File!

Do you want to test your faith, test your relationship, test your bladder? Then have I got the thing for you. For many, the title of this article won’t mean quite the same as what it screams to anyone who speaks Dutch (or Flemish). You could call it “opportunity” if you were an optimist. Most people just call it frustrating.

On the way to a church get-together in Antwerp (a short hour’s drive away), which would be combined with a youth get-together and film before a sleepover, we experienced the wisdom of road works (this is the one thing that seems to work the same the world over – why can’t this kind of synchronicity be achieved for world hunger?). Those who can (and do) decide, decided to resurface a section of highway precisely where two highways merge. So traffic was cut from six lanes to one and we were offered a unique opportunity (wanting to be an optimist) to work on our faith and relationships (the bladder work was for free). The last 20 minutes of our journey took three and a half hours.

You know the thoughts:
“Who does that guy driving down the shoulder think he is?”
“Why doesn’t this guy in front of me move faster?” (followed by the question from the backseat, “Why aren’t we moving faster?”)
“Why are we stopped – what could they be doing?”
“Why didn’t I get in THAT lane?” (followed shortly by the question from the backseat, “Why don’t we get in that lane?” )
“So glad we stayed in THIS lane!” (approximately 5 minutes after the previous question)

And of course the various attempts to keep things going – games, conversations, music, jokes (What color is one white refrigerator? What about 5000 white refrigerators? And 50? And two? What does a cow drink? – GOTCHA!). And finally we start moving. At this point – as we are zooming past the other cars because we are able to exit - the comment comes, “I bet they all now wish they were going to church!”

We were glad to make it safely, together. Learned a lot too. (Next time stop at the toilet when you get a chance!).