The Difference Two Minutes Makes

We all know how our work days can become so hectic and full. Not only do we have the planned routine meetings but we end up juggling the unexpected situations that need troubleshooting. I have plenty of days like this and the other day was one of them. My schedule was tight all day and my goal was to leave the office in plenty of time to drive an hour away to see my daughter swim in St. Michael-Albertville. Well, I had more hiccups in my day than I planned or imagined and I was already late leaving town. The swim meet was at 6 p.m. and I was leaving town at rush hour which meant even the country side roads would be busier with traffic. To be late to a swim meet could mean missing one of my daughters events. This particular meet was all relays and she was swimming two events. Each event is no longer than a few minutes.

I raced (literally, I'll admit it) out of the office, through the never ending Main Street construction and toward St. Michael-Albertville when I realized I had the wrong directions. I had mapquested directions to the high school and remembered (of course while driving) my wife telling me it was at the middle school. I called home, had them mapquest it and pulled over twice while writing down the new directions. I felt like a good citizen because I actually pulled over to write down the new directions but it did nothing in saving me time. I got of town late, rush hour, construction, bad directions and completely frustrated.

Everything in me wanted to bag the swim meet and turn around and just go home. I was driving one hour to the meet, one hour back for what, to watch my daughter swim for two minutes! Two minutes! All the stress of getting out the office, construction, rush hour and directions almost made me miss an important part of my daughter's life. I pushed through the temptation to meet my own whiny needs and kept driving. To my surprise I arrived on time; (let me remind you again that I was racing).

I settled in my seat, took a big breath and tried to calm down. When my daughter climbed the swim block, scanned the audience and found me she waved with a huge smile. I waved and smiled back. Right then and there all the stress of the day spilled out of my body as I realized how important it was for a daughter to see her Dad in the stands, even for only two minutes of participation in a meet. She got the message that she was valued, that I loved her and am a big fan of hers, that I would drive a total of two hours for two minutes. After the meet there was great satisfaction for both of us as we embraced to celebrate her accomplishments.

As children of God, aren't we fortunate that we have a Father in the stands always cheering for us, available and our biggest fan? No matter what is happening in His world (a lot) He is always mindful of our world for he states in Joshua 1:9, "I will be with you wherever you go." When it comes to living this great adventure called 'life" it is valuable to realize the investment we make in our children and a reminder of the investment our Father in Heaven makes in us.