I spent a lot of time in prayer the past few days. I prayed especially hard when I was in the huge completely unfamiliar underbelly of Chicago, driving in the vast dark road system beneath the elevated trains. My GPS could not receive a signal and I had no idea how to get to the hotel where the awards ceremony for the National Appellate Advocacy competition was being held. I knew my son had a shot at a Best Advocate award, and I didn't want to miss it...but it started in 15 minutes and my GPS was lost, and therefore, I was lost.
"Lord, please help me here," I said, driving through those dark and scary alien roads. I saw a shaft of daylight in the distance, and decided I needed to find the sun, get out of that catacomb of darkness, and perhaps the signal would return.
As I burst into the sunlight, my GPS flickered back on, and I was a mere minute from the hotel. I raced to the valet parking workers, handed off my keys, and shot upstairs to the banquet room. I was the first one there.
It occurs to me as I write this that my experience parallels my spiritual walk. I am hopelessly lost in darkness whenever I lose sight of the Son. The guiding signal is faint and I could wander forever without finding my way. But when I seek Him, when I drive hard for His Light, He is there and He guides me, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I travel the path I long so desperately to be on.
At the Awards Ceremony, my beloved son's team won 3rd place overall, 4th place best brief, and then, most delightful surprise of all, Matthias placed as the National 4th Best Advocate individually!
On the way out of the city, I took only roads that remained bathed in sun.
1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. [6] If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
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Amen, Vicky! I am glad you arrived on time and that your son and his teammates performed so well. Praised be the Lord! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Olga. It was a thrill!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to tell you. Since I was so enthusiastic about your book and I told my husband about it, he is now reading it as well. He finished chapter 3 last night. By the way, my father has been sober for 35 years and the serenity prayer with the 2 folder hands is the main prayer for those who belong in AA, so you can imagine the smile I had when you mentioned "Goldie".
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