The gates are opening!

 Nine years ago, when I wass at an appointment in a place I have never been to and never will return. I did not know anyone there, no phone numbers, and the place did not have any social media presence at the time. The appointment was to verify that I am, in fact, legally blind and ineligible to drive and the like. So, I had a paratransportation bus scheduled to pick me up between 3:30 pm and 5:30pm. The building closed at five, so I had to leave. I sat just outside the door on the bench to wait with a cup of water since it was a hot day.

I slowly watched the cars leave the parking lot from the building and other buildings in the compound. Then I see the bus pull in at 5:45pm but not all the way into the parking lot. I was confused and worried since it turned around and left. I called the dispatch and they sent another bus for me. And again, it pulled in and turned around leaving me. At this point, I was very concerned. I called again, and they sent yet another one, this time a van. The van stops at the entrance but not coming into the parking lot.

The driver calls me and I didn't understand what she was saying. Then I walked over while on the phone with her. And then my vision sharpened to at last understand the problem. I said, "Oh nooo, the gates are closed!"

There were no side doors to get out. The spikes put the idea of hefting myself over to rest. The dispatch was being yelled at for being stupid and just enter in a key code. There were no key code anywhere. It seemed impossible. I had no numbers to call. So the driver calls the fire department. This whole time, I was standing in front of the gate, so if it opened up, I might get hurt. So I walked to the sidewalk to be out of the way. I posted this post on Facebook while waiting for the fire department.

Then, like, 30 seconds later, the gates opens up all by itself. No code inputs, no cameras, no sensors, nothing. The driver rushes around to get me before it closed because by this point, it was dark outside at 8:30pm and I can't see in the dark.

This is all God. There's a few great metaphors to allude to the nature of restoring us to God and not standing in His way.

When all help leaves the compound, you are left alone, and you dn't even know you're locked in. God wants to move in your life and help you where you are. You can see God moving on the outskirts of the compound trying to come in, and appears to leave. Keep calling Him! He will always come back and try to find a way in. But you are not at the entrance. You're too far away. You need to walk closer to find out what's going on, what's keeping God out.

Then you discover the gates are closed with absolutely no way to get out. The gates symbolize our sin, wanting to do things our way. You stand in front of the gate, trying to figure out a way to get to God. You know the problem, but you're going about the problem the wrong way. You call for help from the world. Then to protect yourself from the gate opening, you move to the side. You let the world know what's going on, and they pray for you. Then, open sesame! God can finally open the gate for you now that you finally stopped feeding into your sin, your pride, your own wisdom and understanding. 

Then God comes in and grabs you from where you are because you're blind, and He's helping you get to freedom. All you can do is trust the driver to get away from the gates closing and never look back.

I hope this is a blessing to you today, and if you think this story will help someone understand God, please pass it along to them too. God bless.