Christian Comment with Tracy Spiers of Stroud Christian Fellowship

I WRITE this at Cheltenham Spa station waiting for the right train home.

I didn't want to come here, I wanted to go to Stroud.

An hour and half ago I was in Gloucester.

I missed the 12.44 train to Stroud by 10 seconds and was told the next one would leave on the opposite platform.

Chatting away to a fellow passenger, I failed to check which train I was getting on, happily settled into my seat.

A Wensleydale and carrot slaw sandwich later, I arrived in Cheltenham, realised I was heading in the wrong direction and hopped off.

I am now waiting a further 40 minutes to get the right one.

I should have been home by one o'clock not five past three.

It is the story of my life.

One day, I fell asleep on the shoulder of a male stranger as I travelled to London and missed my stop.

I have driven into car parks and back out without getting parked because I got confused by the arrows (and got charged).

As a Christian, I know I go wrong sometimes, but I am grateful that my heavenly Father leads me in the right direction by nudging and reminding me to keep focused.

A friend told me that God only gives us directions when we need them.

Like the Sat Nav on the motorway, the programmed voice leading us suddenly goes quiet for what seems an age, then suddenly springs to life to tell us which junction to take.

But it does mean staying alert and not getting distracted.

He does promise us in Psalm 32 verse 8 that “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.”

But like any student, we need to be willing to listen.

Next time I take the train I will allow myself a few hours to get home.

Or perhaps I should slip my Sat Nav in my pocket so it tells me: “You have now reached your destination!”

I might just get off at the right station.