Lost

I had just landed in Denver, Colorado. Pumped for a new writing adventure in a land I’d never been to, I took the Hertz bus over to pick up my rental car. I had never rented a car before and, being alone, I was hopeful that it would go smoothly.

I got my keys and headed out to find the matchbox car, I mean Ford Fiesta, that was taking me to the Writer’s Bootcamp starting that afternoon about an hour away. After getting adjusted to the car’s ins and outs, I plugged the address into my phone and waited.

And waited…

Nothing happened. It was “searching” for my destination but it never would tell me what to do. I sat in my parked space for at least 20 minutes turning my phone on and off hoping that it was just a little tired, like its owner.

Nope. That didn’t help.

So here I go. Driving up and down a main road about to hop onto an interstate with no idea the direction to go in. I wish I could tell you that I spoke gentle words and showed no character plummet under the pressure, but I can’t lie.

I screamed and yelled and cursed. I was mad, nervous, and lost. I crumbled.

I think I actually yelled, “Jesus, Jesus, please make my stupid phone work!” I’m sure he got a kick out of that one.

Eventually, I just decided to gun it into the traffic ahead of me and take a chance. After about 5 minutes of driving, the phone map began working and I was on my way (after I made a U-turn of course).

Feeling lost doesn’t only come when we’re traveling though, does it? It can come at any time with varying emotional baggage that’s sitting idle ready to burst: fear; tension; loneliness; tiredness; heartache.

So you sit in a Ford Fiesta, or at your office desk, or on your couch, or on the church pew and you wonder what’s next.

The people are buzzing around you, all apparently on their way to the next destination. Some have hands to hold, people to take the chance with. Some are all alone. Stern faced and steady. They all seem to know what to do and where to go, don’t they?

So, what do we do?

Well, we step on the gas, hit send, turn off the tv, or pray for the first time in a while. We seek out the very next thing to do. What makes a little sense. And know that if it turns out unlike what we imagined that could be ok…or we might have to take a big fat U-turn and we’ll still be ok.

Are you feeling a little lost? Friend, you’re not alone. I don’t have a catchy phrase to give you and I don’t think a phrase could help. It’s really a faith and action thing. Stepping one foot in front of the other, or beside one another, or skipping, or running…

Keep your eyes and ears open. Take a chance. Seek advice from wise counsel and the Word.

Let’s kick feeling lost in the rear. You with me?