Last Monday night I met my friend Molly for dinner at her home in New Orleans. From there we were to join friends to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their ice cream shop in the French Quarter.

Neither of us knew the exact location of the shop, nor did we know where to park, so I agreed with her suggestion to get an Uber ride.

The uncomplicated ride to the shop made my very first ever Uber experience a pleasant one. It also made me too comfortable.

On the ride back to Molly’s I was more focused on our conversation than my location. The driver pulled into a gas station on a dimly lit street.

I thought that the crowded gas station was a good sign. I changed my mind when a man slowly walked around the car, stared at Molly and I, and asked our driver for money.

When he refused, the man moved on to approach someone else. We heard yelling as they started fighting.

I grabbed my phone to call for someone to help and froze. I didn’t know where I was, I couldn’t decide who to call and I wasn’t sure if 911 could quickly trace a cell phone.

While these thoughts tumbled around, the driver began to walk toward the convenience store, turned around, got back into the car and sped away.

My lesson from the night?

When I don’t pay attention to where I’m going, I just might end up somewhere I don’t want to be, with no plan of escape. And I’m not referring to Uber rides.

A few poor choices are all it takes to move me from God’s will to a dangerous situation. Since that night, I’ve laid my life, my goals and my dreams before God and asked for His divine guidance to keep me on the right path.

What would my kids say about that night? They may say that had I not cancelled our weekly Family Dinner, none of this would have happened.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.