I Spit and Sputtered the Whole Way Up the Hill

I typically hate road trips. But sometimes the opportunity costs to travel by plane are too great so I pour myself a large gas station Diet Coke, grab a bag of jalapeño Cheetos, (sometimes even) a package of crumb donuts, and hit the open road.

This particular day’s journey was expected to take about 4.5 hours.

A college basketball game was starting that I was interested in watching. Clearly, I couldn’t watch and drive (I don’t have a self-driving rig) so I looked for a radio broadcast.
My search turned up with only static so I started the telecast on my phone with only intent to listen to the game.
I was listening to the broadcast, following the game pretty well as I knew all of the players, their tendencies, and their strength in talent. At one point on an offensive possession, I heard a whistle blow. Instinctively, I looked down at my phone seeking out the reason for the stop in play. I quickly realized I had drifted near the shoulder.
It was not an emergent situation on the highway that day, but the challenge to “stay in your lane” has become a huge focus in my life lately.

I define it as the concept of claiming and owning what’s mine, but carefully and clearly turning over what’s God’s to God and what’s someone else’s – to them. It centers around understanding the importance of agency- using our own while allowing others the growth to use theirs as well. It encompasses the understanding that controlling a situation or outcome proves to never be God’s way or His desire for us. So I’m working to “stay in my lane”.

What I’ve learned-
Is that it’s impossible to do it.
I’m too fast, too slow, too impatient, and too lazy.
I can’t stay in my lane.
But I’m learning how to get back into it after I feel the rumble strip of God urging me to work a bit harder to get it right.

A few months ago, I met a friend for a walk up a hill. The locals call it a mountain. After traversing the switchbacks of real hiking I can only call it a “walk up a hill”. Nevertheless, I quickly came to love this hill, and any who would accompany me as I climbed.

On this particular day, I showed up with fire. I was energized and frustrated, and spit and sputtered my whole way up the hill. My friend listened and as we neared the top she asked me what I was going to do to solve my problem…

!!!

I knew the answer. I needed to course-correct and get back in my lane. God knows me and all of my imperfections. And He loves me anyway.
I love the idea that all God has to work with are imperfect people and He does His best and thus asks us to do the same.

It’s a great lens to look at life through.
So I take my imperfect-lane swerving self, distracted by ball games, opinions, and destinations and I talk them over with God.
He will often bring just one simple idea to my mind of one thing I can do that day to resolve my plight and stay focused on what and who matters most. He will do the same for each of us on our own journeys.

On that warm sunny day-
Following the spit and sputter, sweat and moments of breathlessness…
Peace followed the climb- as it so often does…

-JC

Peppermint Oreo Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae Bars

Brownie Layer:
1 18 oz. pre-packaged brownie mix without chocolate chunks (I prefer Dark Chocolate Duncan Hines)
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
3 Tablespoons sour cream 
⅓ cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup whole milk 

—

2.5 Quarts Ice Cream (I mixed peppermint Oreo chunks into vanilla ice cream)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together brownie mix with the rest of the ingredients for the Brownie Layer. Mix on medium speed just until blended. Don’t over-mix. Spray a 9” x 13” pan with baking spray. Place a 12” x 16” parchment sheet into the pan so that the 12” side of parchment lays in the 13” side of the pan and there’s several inches on either side of the 9” side. (You will remove brownie sundae bars from the pan before serving. This extra parchment serves as an easy way to remove from the pan.  This step can be omitted if you’d like to serve it straight from the baking pan.) Spread brownie mixture evenly over parchment paper lined pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20+ minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Soften ice cream and spoon over cooled brownies. Spread out evenly. Freeze for 2+ hours. Flatten pieces of Peppermint Oreo Layer and place on top of the Ice Cream layer.  Freeze for 2 more hours. Just before serving, loosen edges with a knife then pull on parchment paper to remove from the pan. Cut into 24 squares. Serve with warm Peppermint Hot Fudge Sauce. Share!

Peppermint Oreo Layer
15oz package of Peppermint Oreos (I use the Trader Joe’s version- seasonal item)
6 oz. Cream cheese

Crush Oreos. Add softened cream cheese. Mix well. I prefer the food processor for both of these jobs. It takes less than a minute each.

Peppermint Hot Fudge Sauce
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
¾ teaspoon peppermint extract
Dash of salt

Melt chocolate chips and cream in the microwave for 1 minute and stir until smooth. Stir in salt. Serve warm.