I found myself confronted by an odd realization recently. It was in a comfortable setting with friends. As I stood with a friend looking at the fading sun, I realized I was wrestling with a sense of being lost. It is a hell of my own creation. There are endless signposts in my life, each with an indicator of the way forward. Others are with me on the journey. While their battles may be different from mine, we have a shared bond of commitment towards a common goal. And yet, I knew as I watched the sun set that I needed to rediscover my bearings, reset my compass.
Today I am reminded of wisdom writings which have been preserved for our use. There is an overarching premise to the body of work. One writer captured it well in the introduction to a series of letters left for our use; “I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten.” (1 Peter 1.1). The first lesson reminder in my awareness of being lost is the sense of belonging, even if I struggle to know this is true. “Not one is missing, not one forgotten.”
Knowing one is lost is an opportunity. Without it, one rushes on unaware. One misses guideposts, signs, and warnings. They have always been in your life and mine. However, in my lost state, I realize I was not seeing or understanding them in holistic and helpful ways. Being aware creates a doorway which opens the door to accepting help, reaching for the help others willingly share, and seeing through the eyes of others what one otherwise would never be aware was there. It is in the humbleness of one’s brokenness and wanderings that one discovers life’s compass and guide.
Walking, taking steps into the unknown, is filled with danger and risks. We will not always get it right. Using the wisdom left for us, walking with others is essential to living and being more than we were.
