Lost in the Woods
It seems that we spend a lot of our time either being literally or metaphorically lost. I’m no exception. My first experience of being lost occurred in early elementary school when I got on the wrong bus. For some reason, I got on yellow tag 8 instead of red tag 3 which was clearly on the cardboard placard on the side of the bus. I remember being beside myself when the bus passed by my house without stopping. The bus driver ended taking me to the bus station, and then driving me home. I was so shook up, my mother had to shake me and tell me, “You’re home! You’re home!”
My tendency to get lost carried over into high school when I ran cross-country as a freshman. The coach always mapped out a trail for us to follow. I’d got lost so often I earned the nickname “Davy Crockett.” But my inability to follow trails became much more serious when I ran in an invitational cross country meet for 7th-9th graders. Having been on varsity all year, I was a shoe-in to win the race. But I got way out in front and then got lost, so instead of winning the race I got eighth place. To this day, I don’t remember how I veered off course so badly.
There have been times when being lost could be dangerous. A number of years ago, Donna and I went hiking in Southern Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest. Donna never gets lost and she checked landmarks as we started our hike. However, there were numerous cross over trails and we eventually got lost. We were so lost that we couldn’t tell if we were going toward the parking lot or venturing deeper into the forest. Fortunately, two people on horseback came by and gave us directions. They even waited in the parking lost to make sure we got out. Our only souvenirs from the forest were wood ticks!
However, there are also metaphorical feelings of being lost. I remember clearly the algebra and calculus that I couldn’t understand despite being responsible and paying attention. My friends David and Pat helped me through those experiences of being lost.
But I even got lost in my life. After several traumatic experiences I ended up lost in my own mind. By constantly taking wrong turns and crash landings, I wound up in hospitals and institutions in my attempt to find my way.
In order to improve my quality of life, I needed humility and self-effort. For many years, I believed faith in God alone would be enough. However, eventually I learned to take medication or end up lost for the rest of my life. I also learned to some extent that self-effort was also vital.
Looking back over seventy years, it is clear to me that getting lost always has led to a way forward. I still have faith and trust in God; nevertheless, my own hard work together with God’s grace has made all the difference. In fact, it has only been through a healthy relationship with God that I was able to find my way. I thought I’d end today with a poem I wrote called, “I Need to Make an Effort,” from my book, Poems of Faith Hope and Love.
I Need to Make an Effort
This is the season of patience
when trust in God is essential.
This time of perseverance,
of courage and potential.
God’s everlasting love is near,
but I need to know Him better.
Although God’s grace is always near,
I need to make an effort.
This is the season of giving,
so prayers reflect my gratitude.
A time of true forgiving,
so every day I think of you.
I mostly have a selfish heart
when I assume I’m always right.
So, when I raise my voice, I start
to lose my joy and peace of mind.
There is no need to feel despair,
since God is always here for me.
Although I stumble, He still cares,
and I believe that hope is real.
As I seek to do my best
whenever I am challenged,
I can always work or rest
when God provides the balance.
(Please remember these are my own ideas, and I’m not attempting to persuade anyone to change theirs.)
Quotes
“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep but I have promises to keep...” Robert Frost
“It is a surprising and memorable, as well as valuable experience, to be lost in the woods any time.” Henry David Thoreau
“To be human is to be lost in the woods.” Elizabeth Lesser
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