​Five Minutes Late or Five Minutes Too Early.

Today, on my way home from work, I found myself sitting in traffic.

At first, I was frustrated. I wanted to stop by H-E-B to buy groceries and finally get home after a long day. Cars around me kept trying to move forward, squeezing into every opening they could find, as if somehow they could outrun what was waiting ahead.

Then I saw it.

In the distance, a vehicle was on fire.

Immediately, everything changed.

My frustration disappeared, and my heart began to pray.

I didn’t know who was inside. I didn’t know if everyone had made it out safely. I simply looked at the smoke rising into the sky and realized how quickly life can change.

This morning, someone woke up with plans.

Maybe they were running late for work.

Maybe they were thinking about paying bills, taking their children to school, or picking up groceries after work.

Then, in one unexpected moment, none of those plans mattered anymore.

As I watched people continue trying to push through traffic, driving too close to one another and growing impatient, one thought settled deeply in my heart:

I’d rather arrive five minutes late than five minutes too early to lose my life.

How often do we allow schedules to control us?

We rush because we’re afraid of being late.

We speed because we don’t want someone to be upset with us.

We become anxious over clocks while forgetting that life itself is one of God’s greatest gifts.

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is simply stop.

Wait.

Breathe.

Accept that the road ahead is closed.

No amount of impatience can move an accident.

No amount of frustration can reopen a blocked road.

There are seasons in life that are exactly like that.

We keep pushing forward, trying to force open doors that simply aren’t ready to open.

Yet God gently reminds us,

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Perhaps being still is not weakness.

Perhaps it’s trust.

Today reminded me that every drive home is a gift.

Every hug from my dog.

Every meow from my cats asking for dinner.

Every ordinary moment is evidence of God’s grace.

Tomorrow is never promised.

So I’ll choose to drive with wisdom.

I’ll choose people over pressure.

I’ll choose peace over panic.

Because no meeting, no deadline, no write-up, and no schedule is worth risking the life God has entrusted to me.

Life is precious.

And every breath is another opportunity to glorify the One who gave it.

— Maria Castaneda©️

Faith 2B Strong OnPurpose™