Oh, So Lost! (05/09/2024)

I went to visit someone at my old workplace. I hadn’t been there for nearly 20 years, and in that time, there had been many changes to the neighborhood. I noticed that on my way in. What I failed to notice was the impact of those changes when I tried to go out. I found at the end of the entrance driveway as I attempted to exit, that I couldn’t turn left. There was a median and a sign that read “No U-Turns.” So, I turned right, thinking I could find an easy way back. Turned out, I was better at being wrong than I thought. I got oh, so lost!

After 10 minutes of thinking I was making the correct turns to get back to my path home, I realized I was heading in the wrong direction and moving farther away from my desired destination. I found a parking lot to turn into, get my bearing, and put together my plan. Then instead of using my GPS, I retraced my path back to my starting point. As I breezed past the entrance I’d exited only a few minutes before, I said aloud, “Thank You, LORD. I promise to pay closer attention.”

As I reflected on my day, I also reflected on my ability to think I have things “handled” when clearly, I don’t. I was moved to thank the LORD for not abandoning me even when I stray way beyond the designated path. And I also thanked the LORD for giving me direction through scripture, through prayer, through my Savior’s actions and example, through the love and example of my companions on the way. I acknowledged that it wasn’t for lack of guidance that I got lost but rather from lack of vigilance. I was reminded that straying from the path is usually done in small increments over time.

As we journey to our ultimate destination, as we make our way home to where our journeys began, home in the loving heart of our living LORD, home with all our sisters and brothers, home to life in abundance, let us be attentive to what is around us, to who is around us, to where we are headed, to signs of straying from the way. The LORD calls to us always and everywhere. Are we attentive in the moment? Are we reading the signs of the times, the signs of the journey?

Let us stay vigilant so that we may see what we need to see so that we may act as we need to act. And if we find ourselves lost, let us remember that our Savior promised us that He is the Good Shepherd. He will find us if we humbly admit we are lost and surrender to His loving care.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.