“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.’ Luke 15:5
It’s the last night of a quick mini-vacation this Labor Day weekend, and I sit in the 12:00 midnight air enjoying the snapshot of silence that lays at my feet. As the rest of the house sleeps and the surf laps at the sand, just a few feet away, a catalyst for thanksgiving and reflection is ushered onto the canvas. The ten hour drive home can wait a few more minutes. Something about this night is vaguely familiar and feelings of nostalgia and déjà vu roll in like a fog.
The caravan, traditional stop for orange juice and family dinners only scratch the surface. The 5:00am wake up call, the silver spoon dancing in the trout-green water, the amber and gold sunrise and the giggle behind the camera pass the point of no return standing as solemn reminders that nearly a decade ago this night was different. Instantly I am lost and find it difficult to breathe in the oxygen starved moonlight.
As much as I am aware of the distance traveled in just a few short minutes, I am also aware of the number of times I’ve felt overheated and fatigued. The way out becomes distorted and as I try to touch what is just out of reach, I wander a little further in pushing the limits of my depleted body.
As comfortable as the fog seemed to be, I turn in desperation looking for an exit. And like the sudden rejuvenation of ice water to my dry, parched lips, so is the hand of my Savior, immediately leading me out of the confusion and into the clear.
Be encouraged brothers and sisters. The silhouette in the window, the ashes laid to rest, the year of firsts, the voice you thought you heard, the photograph and the smell of their favorite shirt will surely prompt another step into the fog. It doesn’t end and you will feel lost more than you feel found. But, His burden is light and His yoke is easy. Jesus Christ alone will put you on His shoulders and carry you out of the haze because He is that good. And you my friends, are that loved.
