Reflections (Road Closed)

In my neighborhood there is a short stretch of road - maybe 300 feet - that is now closed.  It is just before you get to 45 Highway, across from HyVee.  Anyway, they closed the road.  This means rather than take the route I have taken multiple times a day for 15 years, I need to go another way and make a very small detour.  The reason for the road closing is there is work being done to create another road.  Obviously, we should not be driving around where large equipment is moving dirt! 
So, there are signs that say, "Road Closed".
This morning as I walked I came by that stretch of road.  I watched two cars simply drive around the Road Closed signs and go their normal path.  Someone had moved the sign so a car could easily go past. 
Did not seem to hurt anything.  The work of the day had yet to begin.  Why not?  That short stretch of road being closed is just a nuisance. 
On the other hand...Maybe roads get closed for good reasons. 
On the other hand...if we compromise the "no brainers" what will we do if we come upon something with huge consequences?
On the other hand...is our convenience and doing what seems right to us, really better than the larger plan being put before us?
Coronavirus is a "road closed".  Our normal is barricaded.  We can still get around it, but is that the wise thing to do?  One of the dangers of Covid-19 is our longing to get back to "normal". 
I believe there is a new normal waiting for us.  Frankly, the old normal, although comfortable and convenient for many, was not perfect.  It was not even that great.  Think about it. 
If you could have a new normal that corrected old patterns that were destructive and harmful to many, would you be interested?  Would you acknowledge a "road closed" sign and seek the new path?
The prophet Isaiah spoke of "a door that is open that no one may shut, and a door that is shut that no one may open. (Isaiah 22:22)
The Book of Revelation pictures an "open door" with the invitation to enter.  (Revelation 3:7-8)
We are seeing some of our old norms being closed.  The road back to normal is closed!
But a new road - a new normal - is being created.
Don't ignore the "road closed" signs.
Know a new road is being created and you will walk (or drive) on it.
This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
steve