I was taught years ago that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Knowing this to be the truth, I use it as we fly from place to place in our airplane. When filing my flight plan, I file direct, which is a straight line from the place of departure to the place of arrival.

In my pre-flight planning, I try to find an airport close to our concert sight. There are very helpful aviation web-sites that locate the airports close to a destination. They list them by distance from a city or town.

The other day I had gone through this procedure and found the closest airport so I filed my flight plan to that destination. Julia, our office manager, then takes the information I give her and maps out the driving directions from the airport to our concert site. When she handed me the information, the mileage from the airport to the concert site was twice as much as my aviation internet site had listed. We started to investigate the problem and found that the aviation web-site used a straight line from point to point and the highways do not always go in a straight line.

In real day to day situations, is it possible that we are always looking at the outcome as if it were a straight line? Are these curves and turns that need to be negotiated and factored in as we move from point to point? Are we disappointed when things and relationships take longer than expected? What can we do about it?

These and other life questions will be addressed Sunday morning as “The Gathering Place Family” meets in the Washington High School Gymnasium at 10 a.m. for our Pre-Service Connection where we enjoy coffee, juice and donuts. Our Worship Service and Children’s Church then begins at 10:30. Come at 7 p.m. and be part of our Wednesday night Bible Study and Children’s Ministry on the third floor above Trends at 120 West Court Street.