Lost and Found (10/14/2023)

Sorry about being late this morning with my posting. The LORD and I had a lot to talk about this morning. Well, actually, if you’d have been a fly on the wall of my porch, you’d know that I did all the talking. I was so lost this morning; I was asea. And as happens so very often in my life, I came to realize that the LORD hadn’t lost me; nope, I’d lost myself. But thankfully, when I looked, I found the LORD was there. He had been all along.

This past week there have been so very many things that have caused me pain and confusion, small and large, close to me and far away: the cruelty and hatred that launched the horrific attacks on innocents in Israel started the week; the disturbing loss of a friend’s beloved brother; a report for my daughter concerning her health struggles that raised more questions than it gave answers; my 94-year-old mother hospitalized with COVID. As I sat with the LORD, I had so many questions, I literally gushed with questions. After I dropped it all at the feet of my LORD, I could almost physically hear it: “Kate, Kate, you are anxious and worried about many things.” I felt like Martha.

And then I understood. As these events had unfolded, I had been trying to handle it myself. While there is much I can do, it must always be in the LORD, through the LORD, and with the LORD. When will I ever learn that any mission I attempt to take on as a solo act will be problematic? There is much I can and should do, but it all begins in the LORD. I must bring it to the LORD, let the LORD guide me, let the LORD strengthen me through grace me for what lies ahead, let the light of the LORD’s love shine through me.

As we journey in faith, buoyed by hope, and fueled by love, let us always recall that the LORD is with us. Let us begin there. Let us turn to the LORD for guidance, for strength, for answers, for consolation. And when we feel lost, let us recognize that it is not the LORD who has moved, it is us. Let us be willing to turn around, to recognize the LORD is there. He always was; He always has been; He always will be. The LOST & FOUND, I have learned, is sacred space.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.