Do You Need to Make a U-Turn?

Before I started driving I double checked the address I'd entered into my GPS.  A sterile woman's  computer voice guided me along the road.  Actually I knew where the road was located. I just wanted the device to let me know when I got to the specific block. I had my cutely wrapped baby shower gift in my car's back seat.  I was looking forward to this shower because I would be seeing old friends with whom I didn't get to spend much time with anymore.

It was an easy scenic drive from Seattle on I 90 East.  I crossed the sparkling waters of Lake Washington over the floating bridge. The majestic mountains covered with dark evergreens loomed in the foreground. I loved this route. However I was glad I wasn't going to have drive over those mountains that day. My exit was a few miles before the start of the ascent up the steep hills.

 I exited I-90 and turned onto Samammish Way. I'd crossed this road many times on my way to COSTCO and also to Marymoor Park.  After I made a left turn the voice on the GPS directed me to make a U-Turn.  Now why would I make a U-turn when I was on the correct road? I kept driving. However when we passed an intersection the voice said again to make a U-Turn. Several times I talked to the voice as if there was a person sitting in the car with me. I don't know why you are saying to make a U-Turn something must be wrong with you. I kept driving ignoring the voice  because I had seen the Samammish Way signs. The baby shower invitation said the house was on Samammish Way. I kept driving, enjoying the scenery. I drove into an upscale residential neighborhood. This was my first visit to this house. I slowed down to find the address on the outside of the house.

I saw the balloons. I found a parking place and got out of the car.  Cheerful chattering voices  greeted my approach to the house. I started walking quickly but something made me slow down. These  voices didn't sound familiar.  As I was walking to the house I came to the realization that even though there was a party happening there it was probably not the event to which I was invited. I saw people I did not know.

I got back in my car and called my friend who was at the baby shower. I told her I was on Samammish Way but could not find the house.  She gave me some landmarks I should see, which I didn't see. We came  to the conclusion I was in the wrong place. How could that be?  I was on Samammish Way.  What I  didn't know until that very moment was that I was on East Samammish Way. I should have been on West Samammish Way. I didn't even know a West Samammish Way existed because I had never driven there. It's actually a loop around the Lake.

Then. it all made sense. The GPS signal was correct all along. I was wrong. There was nothing it could do to help me because I wouldn't listen to it or follow its directions. Isn't this like life and wisdom. When our minds are made up and closed nothing anyone tells us can help us because we think we know what we are doing.

I gave the search engine the right information. However,  I wouldn't trust it or even stop to think why it would "deliberately" lead me astray.  As I think over my life I know there were times my parents or some other more knowledgable person has tried to guide me and I've ignored their wise words. If only I had listened I  could have saved myself endless troubles. My Bible tells me "Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances."*
Counsel works if you follow it.  Hearing good advice was ineffective for me because I wouldn't follow it. I started up my GPS again, followed the directions and got to my destination. "It pays to follow wise words.

*Proverbs 11:14 Message Bible