There is no denying the facts. For most of us, the journey is hard. The losses have been great and have touched everyone I know. We all have had to make adjustments in our travels. I’ve been thinking about my route in 2020. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience.

“Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.” [Psalms 5:8*]

By the grace of God, He is teaching me along the way. When I look over the last year, fear, grief and uncertainty marked my journey. We were told to run and hide in our homes and don’t go out without hiding our features lest anyone know who we are. I thought during this time I would write and make progress with the books, blog, and my home. I planned to achieve the dream in this year called 2021. Now my human side is uncertain of the dream. When all my best laid plans failed, I asked, “What happened to my adventure journey?”

In the spring of 2020, my journey took a turn into darkness and distraction. The second week of March during a mountain morning we drove into a cacophony of lock downs and fear spreading across the Country. That day traveling back to Florida was like traveling in a forest splashed with sunlight. Then the highway widened, clearing the way. A huge city looms in the distance. As we drive closer, the sky above the city darkens with fear and news reports flash across the sky. With each clap of opinion, the winds of destruction strengthen and despair darkened the sky.

Wandering found me lost in the City’s many crooked streets. Assaulted by the snake-oil hawkers and shysters posing as healers and leaders, my trust in mankind faded. I wandered the city, distracted by lights, pleasures, and activity. What kept me going was talking with my Lord in the morning. At the end of each day, I was too distracted and exhausted to seek his face in the night watch hours. It is hard to rest and sleep in a City named Distraction. Over the last several months, I wandered the streets of Distraction looking for a way out.

I wailed, and moaned, and grieved for my family, church, country and myself. Like Job in the Old Testament, I wallowed in my sorrow and pity. I felt betrayed and forsaken. Bargaining with God did not work. Distractions captured my attention, exhausting me and pulling me away from the Father. My writing faltered. Projects remain undone.

Over the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Holidays, I pushed back on the world’s way by abandoning the usual traditions. Finding myself drawing closer to My Lord in the three forms, the Holy Trinity. When the Lord God almighty tugs me closer, I realize my errors. Through Jesus Christ I receive forgiveness and mercy, and the Holy Spirit of God dries my tears, infusing my soul with hope.

The path that lays before us does not look promising. Let us move from the City of Distractions into the Light. It is time to accept truth, no matter how much it hurts, and put our wandering behind us. It is time to get close to and stay close to God. Let us not forget: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble [Psalm 46:1].

The adventure journey is different than I expected. I am making adjustments along the way by trusting that God knows where we are going. It is time to ask the Lord to straighten our path to Him. The quickest way in any journey is the straightest path. We need the Lord in our lives now more than ever. Don’t wait to take the straightest path to His Presence: Prayer. Talk to Him he is waiting for your call. If it is good enough for King David to ask. It is good enough for us to ask.

Most heavenly Father we come to you today, broken, grieving and lost in a world full of distractions guide us you guided King David, Lead us, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of our enemies; Make our ways straight before our faces. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,

Milly

P.S: Here is Psalm 5. It is a wonderful way to begin a conversation with God:

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

¹ Give ear to my words, O Lord,

Consider my meditation.

² Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.

⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,

Nor shall evil dwell with You.

⁵ The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;

You hate all workers of iniquity.

⁶ You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;

The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷ But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;

In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;

Make Your way straight before my face.

⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;

Their inward part is destruction;

Their throat is an open tomb;

They flatter with their tongue.

¹⁰ Pronounce them guilty, O God!

Let them fall by their own counsels;

Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,

For they have rebelled against You.

¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Amen

* All Scriptures are from the New King James Version.