The Impediment

I had a large box that I needed to take to UPS.
I was returning something for my husband.
I had so many stops that day.
The UPS stop was right after lunchtime.

This particular UPS store is in a small shopping center.
There is also a restaurant in the shopping center.
The parking lot gets quite busy around lunchtime.
I actually saw two parking spaces right in front of the store.

As I began to pull into one of the spaces, I noticed the sign on a brick pillar.
It was a handicap parking space.
I immediately pulled out of the space.
I turned my wheel a bit so that I could pull into the other space, which was next to it.

There was no handicap sign.
There was a sign on the sidewalk telling me I could only park in this space for 20 minutes.
I got out of the car and carried the large box into the UPS store.
The store was not crowded; I was waited on right away.

I got my receipt and walked out to my car.
It was then I saw him.
There was a man in a wheelchair very close to the front of my car.
A woman was behind him offering to help him.

I looked down and saw that the ramp was positioned between the two parking spaces.
Even though I was not in the handicap parking space, my front wheel was close to the ramp.
I walked over to him and the woman.
I’m parked right here, I said pointing, let me help you.

We’ve got it, the woman said as the man used his arms to move his wheelchair forward.
I noticed that with all the cars parked in the other spaces, no one was exactly between the lines.
Even though I was in the appropriate parking space, there was not enough room.
I felt awful.

I decided, from now on, even if that was the only space available, I would not park there.
My car in that parking space was not giving the man total access to the handicap ramp.
It bothered me all day long.
Unlike the man, I was able to walk in and out of the store with ease.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

None of us are able to reach God on our own.
None of us have total access to Him.
It is as if there is an impediment between us and God.
That impediment is our sin.

The way to God is blocked.
No amount of effort on our part can make the way clear for us.
No amount of good works can remove the impediment.
The access is blocked.

But there is a Way.
The Way is a Person.
That Person is our Savior.
Jesus, God’s Son, made a new and living way for us through His death and resurrection.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)

When we come to Jesus in faith, trusting in Him alone for our salvation, we have a Way.
We have forgiveness when we repent and turn from our sin and towards God.
A new and living way is open for us.
We have total access to the Father.

I still felt awful about the man’s inability to access the ramp.
I found myself thinking about my access to the Father through Jesus.
There is no impediment any longer.
There is total access.

Hallelujah!

2 responses to “The Impediment”

1. Amen. Thanks for sharing this

   Reply

   • You are welcome, Paula.
     Gina

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