Have you ever had a plan?

Perhaps it was a detailed outline, with multiple steps to your goal.

Or maybe it was much simpler, like running to the store to pick up a carton of milk. (Or, these days, a carton of organic, free-range soy milk.)

And have you ever had these plans – long-range or short – tromped on by the whim of Life, a Life that seems to have Its own ideas about things are really going to go?

I know you’re saying Yes right now. All of us have had this experience.

And if you haven’t, I’d love to interview you about your home planet.

For the rest of us, I am here to explain – with pictures, no less – why the detours Life sends us are actually the most efficient route to our destination.

Check it out.

This is what your plan looks like:

Beautiful, isn’t it? So straight and simple!

But here’s what happens when you embark upon your straight-arrow journey.

(Shout out to Rev. Linda Reppond for the conception of this image.)

These obstacles can be really frustrating. They can range from tiny (a stubbed toe) to mammoth (the loss of a job, our health, or a partner.)

When you’re in the middle of swerving left when you thought you were going straight ahead, it can feel completely disorienting.

But here’s what I’ve found. Maybe you have too.

The nature of these blessings is usually most apparent in hindsight.

The end of a job that led to a closer alignment with our purpose.

The health challenge that led to invigorating changes and opportunities.

The end of a relationship that led to a deeper appreciation for love and connection.

The blessings in the so-called obstacles in our path can lead us to see that what our mind thought of as a “direct route” could have been disastrous.

Again, these bombs are best viewed in a rear-view mirror, with the advantage of time and perspective.

It’s a perspective that allows us to see that the job/partner/whatever we thought we wanted would have thrown us off track for days/months/years.

Thus seriously cramping our style.

And our ability to move forward.

The more I walk this wacky road called life, the more I’ve come to trust the placement of obstacles in my path.

Indeed, I’ve come to appreciate the invisible hand that placed the obstacles there in the first place.

Most importantly, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of a path that has been shaped by obstacles blessings.

Straight lines are boring.

And because of the potential bombs that await if we let our human minds decide the best way to a destination, the “straight path” can actually be the most perilous.

Remember, Life knows what it’s doing.

You can trust it.

Even when you’re sure the latest obstacle in your path is a huge mistake and the one exception to this whole obstacles are actually blessings thing.

Hang in there.

Pretty soon that 20/20 rear-view vision will kick in, and you’ll be thankful for all those bombs you missed!

How have you been blessed by obstacles in your path? Share your comments below!

Want Sneak Peeks, Insider Info, and other Fun Stuff?! Become a member of OhMyGod Life!