Ever feel completely perplexed by seemingly small situations? No? Just me? Three days ago, I sat in a room I frequented often last fall. It was once, “The Imagination Station” (or something like that) at our local library. It was full of play kitchens, puppet show booths and toys. My children loved it. After, many months away from the library, we sat in the same room. It was familiar but noticeably different. The room is bare. No toys, no play kitchen and no puppet show. Jane is also absent from the scene. Added are taller kids with masks covering their face and a little baby. Every now and then I become completely bewildered by situations like this. Disorienting is maybe the best term.
A couple of weeks after Jane died, I found myself in a small group Bible study. Someone mentioned the importance of “knowing true North in a storm”. I was struck by this statement, because it’s completely true but we also get it completely wrong. No captain waits to find true North after the storm begins. When the waves are crushing, the wind is fierce and the sky is dark, it is too difficult to find your direction. But as people we do this all the time. Circumstances become hard, suffering is surprising and life changes in a moment. Suddenly we start grasping at straws, trying to find true North. We’re trying to orient in the storm, but it is too difficult.
Circumstances become hard, suffering is surprising and life changes in a moment
People ask us why our faith is strong. I’m here to say, again, that our faith is a direct derivative of the God who merits our faith. I also want to stress that we knew Jesus was the Way before the storm hit. I can hear his voice in the midst of the storm, because I learned it in the quiet. Life is still strange and I’m often grief stricken and baffled. I encourage you to meet Jesus. Learn his voice while it is quiet, because you will desperately need him when the storm comes.
I can hear his voice in the midst of the storm, because I learned it in the quiet.
Be the first to comment