Lost….
It was a warm Oklahoma
afternoon. Mother drove the black Ford
down the red dusty road in Washita county.
My two younger brothers sat in the back seat as we rumbled along. We each had ‘our own window’. After an hour and several turns, I heard
mother say, “I think we are lost.”
Suddenly she stopped the car and got out. Three pairs of eyes watched her walk forward
about 10 yards and peer ahead before coming back to the car. I asked her what she saw. “The bridge is out, if I had kept on
driving we would have ended in the river.”
afternoon. Mother drove the black Ford
down the red dusty road in Washita county.
My two younger brothers sat in the back seat as we rumbled along. We each had ‘our own window’. After an hour and several turns, I heard
mother say, “I think we are lost.”
Suddenly she stopped the car and got out. Three pairs of eyes watched her walk forward
about 10 yards and peer ahead before coming back to the car. I asked her what she saw. “The bridge is out, if I had kept on
driving we would have ended in the river.”
We didn’t speak as Mom
carefully turned around the Ford on the narrow road. In our minds, the words ‘lost’ and ‘bridge
out’ danced together in a frightening horror of what might have been. Being lost would always remind me of danger
and an imminent turn-around. There are
many ways to become lost.
carefully turned around the Ford on the narrow road. In our minds, the words ‘lost’ and ‘bridge
out’ danced together in a frightening horror of what might have been. Being lost would always remind me of danger
and an imminent turn-around. There are
many ways to become lost.
My teachers often wrote
on my report card, ‘She would do better if she would stop day dreaming.’ I was simply ‘lost in thought’ in my own
secret world. In the adult world, the
chances for losing our way, becoming lost, are greater. The stress of life with
its responsibilities becomes more intense, we lose the car keys, important
papers, a job. We experience death and
separation of loved ones and close friends…we become lost. Fear rides on our shoulders as we lose our
focus on our life goals. We feel that we have lost ourselves in a conflicting
morass of confusion.
on my report card, ‘She would do better if she would stop day dreaming.’ I was simply ‘lost in thought’ in my own
secret world. In the adult world, the
chances for losing our way, becoming lost, are greater. The stress of life with
its responsibilities becomes more intense, we lose the car keys, important
papers, a job. We experience death and
separation of loved ones and close friends…we become lost. Fear rides on our shoulders as we lose our
focus on our life goals. We feel that we have lost ourselves in a conflicting
morass of confusion.
When the sting of
Dementia visited us, we began to redefine the rest of our lives. Losing our
health and aging often redefines who we are.
Or whom we thought we were. This morning my dear husband stated that he
woke up not knowing where we are and why we are here. He was ‘lost’. After many questions he began to understand,
for the time being, where we are and why.
Dementia visited us, we began to redefine the rest of our lives. Losing our
health and aging often redefines who we are.
Or whom we thought we were. This morning my dear husband stated that he
woke up not knowing where we are and why we are here. He was ‘lost’. After many questions he began to understand,
for the time being, where we are and why.
The antithesis of lost is the state of being
found. The state of being whole again,
when we know all is right with our innermost being. It is when we understand that which we cannot
see is more lasting and of utmost importance to us, that we are on our way to
be ‘found’.
found. The state of being whole again,
when we know all is right with our innermost being. It is when we understand that which we cannot
see is more lasting and of utmost importance to us, that we are on our way to
be ‘found’.
One summer I visited my
aunt and uncle and cousins in Hillsboro, Kansas. As I drove home I enjoyed the memories of the
visit. Suddenly I realized that I took a
wrong turn. I was lost. I pulled off the highway, checked the map,
and looked up. I realized I did not know
my directions. A pickup parked near by me. The lady asked if I needed anything. As I
explained my dilemma, I wondered if she was an angel that God sent. Soon she
headed me in the right direction. When I
arrived home, my first purchase was a compass.
Not knowing my directions placed me in a deep confusion that brought
fears of…would I ever find my way home
again?
aunt and uncle and cousins in Hillsboro, Kansas. As I drove home I enjoyed the memories of the
visit. Suddenly I realized that I took a
wrong turn. I was lost. I pulled off the highway, checked the map,
and looked up. I realized I did not know
my directions. A pickup parked near by me. The lady asked if I needed anything. As I
explained my dilemma, I wondered if she was an angel that God sent. Soon she
headed me in the right direction. When I
arrived home, my first purchase was a compass.
Not knowing my directions placed me in a deep confusion that brought
fears of…would I ever find my way home
again?
We have a compass that
guides our life, so that no matter what happens, what losses or gains, we know
that we are headed in the right direction.
In His Word, we find God’s plan for our lives. We know what path we follow. Because of His unconditional love, we can
follow and trust that we are not lost.
When I read the words, in the parable of the prodigal son, And bring the fattened calf and kill it,
and let us eat and celebrate.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they
began to celebrate. Luke 15:13-14
guides our life, so that no matter what happens, what losses or gains, we know
that we are headed in the right direction.
In His Word, we find God’s plan for our lives. We know what path we follow. Because of His unconditional love, we can
follow and trust that we are not lost.
When I read the words, in the parable of the prodigal son, And bring the fattened calf and kill it,
and let us eat and celebrate.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they
began to celebrate. Luke 15:13-14
The word ‘found’ is the sweetest word in this world. Even
death cannot separate us from the love of our Heavenly Father. Even as the prodigal son returned to His
Father and declared ‘found’. When we
return to our first love, Jesus Christ, we come into the state of being
‘found’.
death cannot separate us from the love of our Heavenly Father. Even as the prodigal son returned to His
Father and declared ‘found’. When we
return to our first love, Jesus Christ, we come into the state of being
‘found’.
* In the fear of
the Lord one has
strong confidence, and his
children will have a refuge. Proverbs
14:26
the Lord one has
strong confidence, and his
children will have a refuge. Proverbs
14:26
* Let us then
with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
* By this is love perfected with
us, so that we may have confidence
for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
I john 4:17
us, so that we may have confidence
for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
I john 4:17
Our God (Chris
Tomlin)
Tomlin)
Into the darkness, You shine
Out of the ashes, we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
Out of the ashes, we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
Comments? eacombs@att.net