“I Can’t Reach You!” (03/19/2024)

I am the mother of three children born a year apart (1971, 1972, 1973). The LORD gave me three beautiful and spirited children but only two hands. So, I had to improvise. We had a rule whenever we left home – Stay close. If one of my children got too far ahead or away, I would simply say, “I can’t reach you!” and they knew that meant they needed to come back to me. I gave them the reason, “If you are two far away, I can’t save you if danger came like a speeding car or a loose dog.”  And so, my children were raised on the “I can’t reach you!” principle.

This week as I struggled with issues and did some flailing about because I’m never going to be able to work things out alone, I was reminded of my phrase. And it struck me. Have I wandered away from my LORD, into my things, distracted by the challenges of life and erroneously thinking I can do this alone? And the words, “I can’t reach you!” flooded my heart.

I was reminded of Peter walking on water. He did at first, you know. He got out of the boat and started to walk, but then it became all about what he could do rather than what the LORD could do through him, with him, and in him. “Oh, Peter! I understand,” I said as I felt that sinking feeling.

And then I did what I’ve learned to do through experience, stop, turn back, come back, and humbly and docilly affirm my surrender to the LORD and my knowledge that without Him I’m going nowhere at rocket speed. Whenever I feel despair in a moment, I realize that I’ve strayed. The LORD didn’t abandon me; I strayed away, one step at a time.

Lent is a time for us to prayerfully discern how close we are to the LORD. Are we walking in the footsteps of our Savior and LORD or are we off on a personal adventure with only our desires and wishes in mind? Are we loving as we are called to love because we know that is the fuel for our journey; without it we will stall, we will fall behind, we will run out of steam.

Let us all take time this 5th week of Lent to ask ourselves if we are close enough and open enough for the LORD to reach us? If not, there is still time to turn and return. Let us remember, He who created us without our assistance will not save us without our cooperation. It’s called free will.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.