I only had three hours left. It would take me three more
hours and I would be home. The last few days had been tense. I was missing a
lot of work that really needed to be getting done. And I was almost back to
normal. Well, my normal.
A couple days ago I lost something of value. I am obviously
not caught up in having stuff. That is made apparent by the country I choose to
live in. If I can give up showers and electricity then I can give up everything, right? Sort of. I still have a couple really nice things, mostly jewelry. One of them
happened to be a watch. It was white gold. It had diamonds around the face. I
wear it every day and have worn it every day for YEARS. It goes with
everything. I actually had a pin replaced in the band back in June. Well, it
happened. Some how… Some where… I remember checking the time. I picked some
stuff up. Plopped the stuff down. Five minutes later… I feel naked. I went to
check for the time and it was gone. I was upset, shocked, annoyed, and mad. I felt like someone had taken something from me. It is hard to explain, but like it had been ripped away from me. I
could never replace something that expensive with the current life I live which is simplistic to say the least. I went back
inside… Searched high and low. I went outside. NOTHING. I wish I could tell you
that this story ends with me getting home and finding it. It doesn’t. It is
really gone. I almost cried. Till I remembered it was something that really didn’t
matter because it is really insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it
does still sting. I don't lose anything except for my phone and car keys. This was so random.
I made one last attempt and re-traced my steps throughout
the day. I even went back to talk to a manager at one of the establishments. I
left my number asking for her to call if anything was found. She happily agreed and said, “Was it like a Michael Kohrs or something?” I chuckled, “Not really,
it would be a Kohrs on steroids. If it is found and you pick it up, you will
know it is mine. It is unique and nothing close to a category that would be sold here.”
I left not being able to track time. “Okay God, if it is
gone I am okay with that. Your restoration is better than anything else.”
Now… A couple
days later. I am here. Lost, with no sense of time. Judging by the sun. I put
another watch on. It immediately started to make me itch. I left it on thinking I
would get used to it. My wrist starts to blister. Okay… Off it goes. I am living in the no time zone.
Yesterday, started really early for me. I was going on tens hours of crazy and
still had three to go. I am buying a bottle of water. Hit the bathroom. Head
for the door. I walked out beaming
with the confidence of knowing where I am going and what I am doing. I unlock the car, slide in behind the wheel, turn the key…
NOTHING!!! Not a click, not a ding. “God? Are you really looking out for me? I am all alone here. It
would be really nice to have some assistance.” I see some people in the parking
lot and ask for help. No… One lady is afraid I am going to attack her. Another has
some place to be. It is hot. I must be looking quite crazy and gang like. I go back and sit.
“God, if I am supposed to be here for something you really need to show me what
it is. I am tired and want to go home!”
I see an older couple getting into a van. I ask for help.
The man smiles and says, “that is what I am here for.” They come and jump the car. I am so
grateful and explain how the other people had said no to my plea for assistance. They leave. I drive off.
Not two minutes out and they are pulled over on the side of the road. My heart
beats faster. “Lord? Please tell me that wasn’t a set up! Please tell me what
to do. You order my steps!” I was aware of the sunset behind me. I didn’t want to drive
in the dark by myself, but I was grateful I didn’t have kids. I take a big sigh
and I pull over. “Do you need some help?” He looked up and smiled. To be honest
I wasn’t sure if it was the smile of the wicked witch saying now I am going to get you my pretty or if it was a
genuine smile. Unfortunately you just never know what you are going to
get here in Honduras. This is the country where your own employees order assasins to take you
out. I must have shown my nerves because he said, “Go on, its getting late, we will be fine.” I
drive down a few blocks.
“Lord, they helped me when nobody else would. You have to
protect me because the least I can do is help them.” I turn around, I park
behind the van. I hear someone praying as I walk past the windows. “Do you know
much about cars? Is it something you can fix?” He is holding the cable to the accelerator. He can’t get the
van to start. “I have no tools, and I know nothing, but if you need a ride some
place, need a phone, or maybe even if I just sit here so you aren’t all alone.
I will do whatever you need. You helped me, now let me help you.” The lady a little older than me walks
over to me, “I prayed that He would send us an angel, He sent us you.” Feeling a little relieved at this point
that I wasn’t going to be shoved into the van or tied up and thrown to the side
of the road like so many others I gave her a smile. “He has His angels around
us, and He orders our steps, but we have to listen. Today, I just finally
decided to set my agenda aside and to listen.”
Long story short, I ended up towing them to a mechanic. I
don’t know how I found a mechanic, but I did. He ordered my steps and lead me down the path. We said our
goodbyes and I was now leaving when I should have been arriving. It was okay… I couldn’t really keep
track of the time anyways, right? Had my watch been on… I never would have
helped. When I am in public I tend to hide my phone so it doesn’t draw extra
attention so I wasn't checking the hour. God knew. Had I been with my kids, I never would have risked helping. God knew.
I can’t say what could have happened. I don’t know what He
protected both vehicles from, but I am sure it was something. He has His reasons. Both vehicle
issues were simple fixes. Literally, just a matter of having the right tool on
hand. To be honest, I get so caught up in the time or the loss of time and
where it is I need to be or what it is that I need to be doing. Many times I
miss all of the little miracles that are around me.
So I have a new challenge. Not just for me, but I am sure it
applies to you too. “God, can I have your order?” I don’t always want it, but I
know it is best. “Father, lead me,
guide me, direct me, You order my steps today and every day. Keep me from
distractions and frustrations of the loss of time. Remind me that You are the
Lord of all. And the Lord of all is either Lord of EVERYTHING or Lord of
nothing. Today, I give you EVERYTHING!”
Everything! Even my silly little watch, the time keeper. He is the real time keeper anyways. AND I know
that in one second everything can change so the reality is that watching the
minutes pass by really accomplishes nothing.
Giving everything to His order… Submitting entirely to His
plan. That is risky business. It is easy to say it. Easy to start to do it. It
is so hard to follow through. We can do this! His plans. His will. Take His order. Follow His lead. We can do this together!
