From what I understand, during the construction of the Interstate Highway system, several sections of roadway were engineered without curves or dips, resulting in straight sections as long as possible. One such stretch, spanning over 80 miles between Phoenix, Arizona, and Yuma, Arizona, was exceptionally straight. While this might sound like a dream, it also had an unexpected consequence: the section recorded more than average accidents compared to the rest of the highway. This begs the question: why did this seemingly ideal design lead to an increase in accidents? I’ve been told that the absence of curves and the constant straightness of the road caused drivers to become complacent. This complacency, in turn, led to carelessness and, ultimately, accidents.
Whether we like it or not, change, variety, and even difficulty can be beneficial. They keep us alert and prepared for the future. I believe this at the heart of two verses found in Ecclesiastes 7:13-14. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. In other words, God permits “crooked” paths, as it were, to compel us to seek His guidance and direction for the future. So, in the middle of what seems to be a crooked path, God just might be keeping you from a terrible “accident.”