Lost.
There was no doubt about it; I was lost. Absolutely, undeniably LOST. On this bright, clear, cold, sunny day, I was on a reconnaissance mission any mother would relish. My daughter was engaged, and at her request, I was gathering research for her wedding dress. If I found options, she would book a flight to try them.
My destination was The Bridal District. Though I had never been there before, I was not concerned; I had a plan, a good vehicle, and a full tank of gas.
However, as I drove along, I began to notice a disturbing change in scenery. My surroundings began to drastically change, and there was no evidence of wedding apparel anywhere.
Then… I arrived at my 'destination'. Immediately I knew, something was wrong, very wrong. I was nowhere near The Bridal District. I was sitting outside a suspicious house, in a suspicious neighborhood. An overwhelming sense of dread descended in my car.
Quickly, I made a U-turn and a hasty departure. Retracing my points of decision, I made calculated adjustments, and reestablished my directions.
This time I found myself in an even worse situation. I was in an abandoned industrial district, and nothing looked safe. My mind ran wild as I envisioned gang members surrounding my car, asking for the drop-off. Increasing my anxiety was the awareness that no one knew where I was.
I was in trouble.
I was vulnerable.
I was afraid.
I was lost.
Mustering up courage and logic, I made one last attempt to recalibrate my directions. I drove to the nearest set of quadrants that offered landmarks and street signs, and I made a call for help.
The voice on the other end of the line asked, “Where are you? Tell me what landmarks are around you?"
After listening, came this response, "You are not too far off, but this is what you must do to get away from where you are, and arrive at where you want to be.” Right information, right person. These “right resources” proved true, and, yes, I eventually made it to The Bridal District.
Being lost is a sick feeling. And, truthfully, being lost is not limited to physical and geographical disorientation. Life Lostness also exists, and without warning, we are tossed into spiritual and emotional vertigo. We set out toward a destination, and we fully intend to arrive. However, unexpectedly and painfully, we find ourselves in a place or situation we never imagined possible.
Life Lostness sounds like this:
The MRI showed…
I received a phone call telling me…
The principal asked me to come in for a meeting…
My husband walked in and told me…
When my daughter asked to talk…
I never knew the empty nest would…
But I thought she was my friend…
Our parent teacher conference revealed…
When we married I thought…
We moved here because…but now…
My world is turned completely upside down since…
I never dreamed I would find myself in this situation…
My guess is you can identify with exactly what I mean. Feeling vulnerable and afraid, confused and disoriented, you and I struggle to locate dependable landmarks.
Life Lostness brings with it the urgent necessity to engage the Right Resources: Right information, Right person.
Right information:
God and His Word are essential. His grace and truth are the ultimate best in leading me through any ache of Life Lostness. His Voice, through His Word, in the power of The Holy Spirit, offers the Dependable Quadrants needed for reorientation.
Right person:
A trusted friend is one of God’s greatest resources in a time of Life Lostness. She can listen as you describe where you are, and she can help guide you where you want to be. She is God’s gift to whisper, "In the midst of your disorientation, I assure you that you are not far off, but this is what you must do to get away from where you are, and arrive at where you want to be."
There are no shortcuts. In Life Lostness, time is needed for us to reorient ourselves. And somehow, along the tumultuous journey, we make a surprising and sweet discovery: He Himself has become our Destination.
Question: What situation has thrust you into Life Lostness? What resources became essential in helping you move forward?
