The Parking Lot Dance

My granddaughter was not quite two years old and easily reached for my hand as we crossed the parking lot. She quietly sang a song as she skipped along. I looked around to make sure the pathway was clear and seeing an approaching car I squeezed her hand firmly and we stopped for a moment. She danced at my side full of joy as the car passed by.

Oh, the innocence of childhood. Can you imagine yourself busily dancing to a song in your head today, oblivious to the world around you? Probably not. The world around us is busy and can be a dark and sometimes a dangerous place. Headlines assail us with the worst ails of society. Sickness, famine, storms, diseases, attacks… the list is longer than our attention span. We read a tidbit and can get lost in the details. And then there’s always a similar story waiting to be read right behind that one.

I think it was easier to dream of a safe world when our news arrived via newspaper and only once a day. And so much easier if we didn’t read the paper. Sometimes a neighbor would mention an important event before you caught the headline of the 5 o’clock evening news program on television.

So, how can we get back to a carefree mindset? Unfortunately, I think with age comes some wisdom. We are wise enough to know that just because we don’t read it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Perhaps the refresher we need is the reminder that nothing ever has been totally under our control, not completely and not ever. We may decide to go shopping and accomplish that. It’s always good when the expected happens. But often we get side-tracked or something stops us before we even leave the house. Our decision to go makes us think we’re in control, yet so many elements can affect our day.

We have no direct control over our neighbors, our community, our state, our nation, our world or our universe. We may sway people’s opinions by our research or our vote for representation; we may complain or protest when wrongs are committed. But the ultimate outcome is beyond us. Possibly causing us distress, anxiety, frustration, even hatred and hopefully not retaliation. This is not the innocent world we wish we lived in. So, the question is: is there an answer?

If you’re like me, you pray for a better world. You look for ways to bless others in their neediness and pain. But the best reminder for me I found in the book of Psalms. It reminds me that I may stumble, yet I won’t remain down. I, like my granddaughter, can walk unafraid. Even allowing today’s news to go unattended. (It usually waits for me anyway.)  I may not see the challenges ahead, but my heavenly Father does. When I focus on Him, He directs my steps, and I can trust that my hand is safely tucked into His.

We aren’t promised a safe world, but his word testifies to His faithfulness to every generation. I find peace in knowing that I may be blindsided by an oncoming hardship, but He never is. He is strong and He holds my hand. Like my little granddaughter I simply must learn to pause when He bids me to do so. I may not like it, but if I keep my eyes on Him, you may even find me dancing as the danger passes by. Eyes up, my friends, we serve a great big God.

Be blessed. And be a blessing,

~~ Debbie G

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24

#peaceinthepause #parkinglotdance #Heholdsmyhand