Interceders are the people and moments in life that redirect our journeys. Good, bad, or indifferent, the person or the experience meets us at our most critical intersections. They are the someone or something that can completely change the trajectory of our worlds.
Intersections
For more than twenty-five years I’ve operated in the world of local government. Roads are a central piece of the public infrastructure system that gets people from one place to another. There are critical junctures in these systems called intersections. Intersections are a point where we have the ability to change our direction.
All roads have intersections. Some are less traveled, some are congested, some are dangerous, some are confusing, some are difficult to navigate, some send us on a detour, and some let us pass right on through. Each one can redirect our journey.
Interceders
We too experience intersections as we navigate life. Many of those intersections are also less traveled, dangerous, congested, confusing, difficult to navigate, create detours, and we end up passing through some completely unscathed.
On the flipside, the someones and somethings that meet us at these critical intersections can positively impact our journeys. All of us have had these people in our lives and each of us has experienced these transformational moments. Our lives look different today because of these intersections.
If Interceders are, “someone or something that has redirected our journeys,” let’s dive into what they look like in our lives:
Someone
All of us have someone that has redirected our journeys. I am personally grateful for all of the people that have interceded my life. It would look A LOT different without the intercedence of these someones.
These mentors, teachers, coaches, pastors, friends, spouses, parents, or other influencers that met us at these critical intersections. Each has redirected our journeys. If it were not for them, we could have easily gotten lost, stalled out when the light turned green, or went down the wrong road.
Interceders are generally more familiar with navigating the intersections of life than we are. They know the terrain and are familiar with the traffic patterns.
Their own twists and turns have made them wise. Wisdom is generated through experiences. We have two options in life, to learn from the experiences of others or our own. With absolute certainty, I can tell you that our own experiences hurt way more when the collision happens.
These special people met us at the intersection of every low and high point that the world has thrown at us. Interceders met us at depression, alcoholism, anxiety, stress, struggle, hopelessness, and indecisiveness. They served as our GPS enabled detour that helped keep us on the right track. They led us to destinations that we never thought possible. These people listened to us, encouraged us, loved us, cared for us, and understood us at every crossroad.
They always arrived at the intersection on time, never too early, never too late. Right when you needed them.
Something
Something has, can, and will intersect our journeys. These show up as moments, many unforeseen and unexpected. Some deserved, some underserved. The GPS of life doesn’t always warn us that they are approaching either.
Seasons of discouragement, depression, anxiousness, stress, struggle, and hardship seem to always lurk below the surface with the potential to emerge at any time. There are people in my world that have walked through unimaginable moments. Intersections of abuse, addiction, divorce, loss, terminal diagnoses, financial hardship, you name it. They are some of the strongest, most resilient human beings that I know.
Life also contains moments of pure joy. The birth of a child, a promotion, recovery, finding that soulmate, medical miracles, financial peace, and discovering our true purpose in life. These intercedent moments encourage us to continue on the journey, expectant of the next intersection rather than fearful of the next turn.
They remind us that the Windshield is always bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.
Conclusion
Depending on your life experience, this post may have hit you different.
For those of you that may have experienced negative intersections with people or moments along the way, I offer you this encouragement…setbacks lead to comebacks. The intersections of life can develop a level of Grit in us that can handle whatever the next intersection holds.
Here is a reminder for all of us…our stories are still being written. There are plenty of people and moments waiting to redirect our journeys. The people that our lives intercede with are the potential co-authors of the rest of our stories. Find the ones that are further down the road than we are.
Because, just when you think that no one else has ever walked in your shoes, remember this quote. Psychologist Carl Rogers once said, “what is most personal, is most universal.” Our junk is relatable.
I’ll leave you with two challenges.
The first…how grateful are you for those who have positively interceded your life? Do they know it? Have you spoken it?
If not, let them know today. Send the text, compose the email, write the note, or forward this post. I once heard from a friend that, “Gratitude is never silent.” Express it.
The second…how are we going to use our stories to redirect the journeys of others? Are we ready to be that someone or create that moment that redirects someone else’s life? Intercede.
