The Middle of Nowhere.
"All the roads that take us away from God lead to no where."
I heard this yesterday.
From my experience, it's true.
Wonder why we often choose to remain lost in nowhere? Have you ever been lost? Wondering about in the middle of nowhere? Some stop and ask for directions; others in their pride and ego choose to continue to wander in the middle of nowhere until they are worn out, scared, and completely lost.
I know that some would suggest that all roads lead to God, but I am not so sure. Some choose to never face themselves and their lives; to "white-knuckle" life on their own terms, and end up way down the road and find themselves out in the "middle of nowhere" lost in the dark. Some "prefer the darkness over the light."
The question I have to ask myself during this season of Lent, is the road I am on taking me away from God or am I getting further lost in the "middle of nowhere"?
I know when I'm lost that it is because I have been walking away from the Light.
How did I get there?
How do you know when you are on the road walking in the Light or toward the Light? How do you know if you are in "nowhere land"?
I think of the story of Jesus spitting in the mud and rubbing it on the man's eyes. At first his vision was blurry, and so Jesus touched him again. Usually when I am in nowhere land, I'm in the dark and my vision is blurry, and that's when I know I need the gentle touch of God to open my eyes so that I can see. That's when I know I need to stop and admit that I am in the middle of nowhere; that's when I know I need to drop my ego and ask for directions.
10 Comments:
My greatest fear is that as I try to find him more fully in my life I am actually on the road to nowhere. I am afraid that is where I am now.
I think about this alot....the doubts that can creep in and I have to trust that the Bible is a pretty good map or guage or.....that in reading that and praying for an understanding of what I read....I won't get too far down the road to nowhere.....
This post is a great example of why you have been awarded "The Thinking Bloggers Award" by yours truly.
Check it out on http://barbara007.typepad.com/prodigal_daughter/
Hi Rick. The funny thing is that sometimes we feel lost and we are and sometimes we feel lost but we're not. [That's an extra at no charge.]
But about your "walking away from the light":
May I reword that as "walking away from the love?" Would that mean the same for you?
To me love is more touchable than "light" because it usually has human skin on. It is soft and warm and connects us to God's love.
We see so many walking away from Christian fellowship because of scruples, conscience or grief, and in the process walk away from love as well. Then they end up in same middle of nowhere, like you said.
Thanks for writing. Joe
Cool post!
I like your answer to "how do you know when you're in the middle of nowhere?" -- "When things look blurry; see the story about the man Jesus healed gradually." That image clarified your answer for me.
Then again, I also agree with OpenJoe, to some degree. I have felt lost many times in the past 15 years of my life, but in some of those times, I kept going to my job (even though it grated on me), kept meeting the Lord in prayer every day (felt dry as sawdust, but I showed up!), and kept up w/ my social circle (i.e., didn't withdraw from life). In one of these times, I discussed this with a wonderful spiritual director I had at that time. His answer was "Are you being faithful? Are you doing all that you know He's called you to do?"
Great question! Yes, I told him, as far as I know, I am. Well, he responded, that's all the Lord asks of you. It may be dark, but you *are* on the right track.
I still hold to that. But then -- was I actually lost, or not? (!) Feeling lost *is* tough; esp. when you're convinced you *are* lost. It's easier to hang in there when you can compare your life to truths and say "As far as I know, I'm being faithful, Lord!" And here's where things get mentally blurry for me (I just don't know enough to see the answer to this one clearly) : If you're doing 'all the right things' (being faithful), but things still look fuzzy...are ya lost?
The answer I've come up with so far (not that it's right, but fine) is "You're not on the wrong track, and if God wants you to keep moving even though you can hardly see, do that! But you're also free to pound on His door and say 'I'd really like some more light on the ol' path, if You don't mind!' and ask for greater clarity, as long as you are willing to take whatever He's willing to give." And that's because the real point is my relationship with Him. Yes, I always prefer being in a place where I can use my gifts and talents, surrounded by friends, receiving what I need and giving a lot. But "in good times and in bad," -- that's the relationship I was baptized into, and it's growing closer to Him in both the peaceful and the turbulent times that's the important thing.
...imho! ;-)
Rick, once again you have made people think. Thanks.
For my two cents worth:
To me, the main teachings of Jesus were first to love God and one another, not to judge and the last was to have the faith (trust) of a mustard seed.
If I love myself and do not judge myself then it is much easier to trust that the path I am traveling is being guided by God, that lives within me. When I find myself going off in the wrong direction, my trust, because of free will, allows God to gently nudge me back to the path that is best for my highest good, not my ego’s good. The ego only knows fear. God is unconditional love.
The choice is mine to make.
Which do I choose?
Fear with all its attendants – doubt, greed, judgment, self serving actions, guilt, etc.
Or, do I choose Love with all its attendants – trust, non-judgment, and altruism?
Actually, without judgment, there is nothing left but unconditional love and then we are home.
matt
Rick...I share with you an illustration I use in ministry: I believe in a "black & white Gospel" called "truth". It runs from infinity to infinity and was referred to by Christ as "the strait and narrow path". I was born off to one side or the other in October of '41. For 30 years I made a mess of my life, stumbling around out there in darkness. Then, on 3/27/72, I fell into that path. If you had a diagram of my journey for the last 35 years, however, it would look like a drunken man attempting to walk that line. Only One, after all, has ever done it with perfection; and the truth is: the area to either side is called "grace". We will not be judged. in the end, by how well we tight-roped the path, but by how sincere we were in our hunger to know His voice calling us to center as we went. This I believe; and I offer it to you. Your journal here has always fed me, sir. Peace.......
Rick, OpenJoe, Matt.
Wonderful post and comments. I particularly like the references to (unconditional) Love. It is more tangible for many of us.
Whatever your specific faith, it seems that they all embrace Love as a universal message. If your actions are motivated by Love, you are likely on the right path.
Thanks.
You remind me of the Methodist bishop John Owen Smith, who, when questioned by perspective ordinants about the question they had to answer - "Do you expect to gain perfection ...? - exclaimed, "Well,if you're not headed for perfection where are you going?"
Good reflection. Reminds me of the passage in Scripture - "Now I see through a glass darkly, but then - face to face."
Keep writing.
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