Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Tag: lost

  • In The Dark

    I stayed in student housing on a university campus while attending a retreat. My bedroom was one of three in the basement of a townhouse. The first evening I found my room, had a short visit with my roommates and went to bed.

    In the night I got up to go to the bathroom. The bedroom was very dark and I became disoriented when trying to find the door. After first bumping into a wall and then opening the closet, I found the door and exited the room.

    It was almost as dark outside of the bedroom as inside. I saw some closed doors, went from memory to choose what I thought was the correct one, opened it and stepped inside. When I heard someone roll over in bed, I knew my choice had been wrong! I quickly backed out. Confused, I stood in the dark and slowly turned in a circle, trying to get my bearings.

    That’s when I spotted the open door that was my bedroom. My phone was next to the bed so I made my way back, retrieved it and used the light to guide me. Success at last!

    Why hadn’t I done that in the first place? The answer is simple. I thought I could manage on my own. That’s why I wandered in the dark when a source of light had been available all along.

    I don’t know about you, but this is a familiar story in my life. Many times I’ve stumbled my way through life’s challenges, thinking if I just try harder I can manage on my own. I’ve learned that seeking help is not weakness, as I first thought. It takes strength to admit I need help to see me through.

    The source of light, God’s Son, is available and waiting for me to seek His guidance. Jesus is the light of the world. He shines into the darkness, the fear and the grief. His light brings hope, peace, and clarity. It focuses my attention on people, places and things I wouldn’t have found on my own. There is no need to walk in darkness when I have access to the light.

  • Follow the Leader

    #inspiration, #Jesus, guidance, I put my hand on my husband’s arm to quietly stop him. “Look,” I whispered as I pointed to the yard we were passing by. At the side of the house were a mother duck with ten or twelve fluffy ducklings walking in a line behind her.

    The previous week I enjoyed seeing this family in a nearby creek. Now I was concerned to see them three streets away and dangerously close to a busy street.

    In the creek a week ago

    “You’re going the wrong way,” we said. “There’s no water here.” I wished there was some way to redirect these waterfowl in order to keep them from harm.

    The ducklings trusted their mother so obediently followed where she led. I’m fairly certain she had no intention of leading her babies into danger. She probably lost her way and was trying to find her way back.

    Have you ever been led astray by a well-meaning person? Or, perhaps you’ve been the one who unintentionally led one or more in the wrong direction. No matter how well-intentioned, we all lose our way sometimes.

    I know I have sometimes wondered how I ended up so far from where I wanted to be. Was I following blindly without paying attention?

    To keep this from happening I’ve learned to pray and seek guidance from the Lord. He knows where I should be and how to get me there. Only one leader can be counted on to never lead me astray. That is why I choose to follow Jesus.

    [The Lord says,] “I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 GWT)

  • Directionally Challenged

    #Jesus, #inspiration, navigationIt sounded so easy when I heard the directions. “Turn left at the corner, another left at the first light and that will take you back to the highway.” My friend said.

    Confidently I set off, thinking there would be no problem in finding my way out of this unfamiliar city. That was my first mistake!

    My sense of direction is not good. That’s why it took me so long to realize I was heading in the wrong direction. My concern now was figuring out how to get off of this very busy highway and back to where I needed to be.
    It was then I remembered the portable navigation system sitting in my center console. It had been there all along. I’d just been so sure of myself that I hadn’t bothered with it.

    When I stopped and engaged this device I was soon guided back in the right direction. My journey had been delayed by more than 30 minutes by my foolish mistake.

    The lesson in this was not lost on me. Many times I have found myself without clear direction. When proper time hasn’t been taken to confirm my course, I’ve ended up racing the wrong way, feeling lost and unsure how to make the necessary correction.

    Although Jesus is always available to help me, I’ve been guilty of thinking I can figure out my own way. When I forget to rely on him the result is not good. Jesus is my navigation system. My sense of direction may not be accurate but he will never fail me.

    Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. (Psalm 25:4 NLT)