Did You Find What You Are Looking For? Finding Peace in Unexpected
Posted: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
by Lorrie Davids
I was excited to make this trip to Wal-Mart. My daughter suspected she might be pregnant and we were on our way to pick up a home pregnancy test. As we walked into the aisle personal products were shelved, I didn't notice she had stopped to look at something that had caught her eye; I had tunnel-vision. I made my way down the aisle looking for the item that might give me the name "Grandma". I found them quickly setting on the top two shelves directly above the many boxes of male contraceptives. I could feel my daughter's presence next to me as I stood gazing at the boxes. I asked "Did you find what you are looking for?", after all, this was a personal moment and in my excitement didn't want to just grab a box for her. A few seconds passed before a heard a voice much lower than my daughter's reply "Er, ah, not yet." I looked over to see a very embarassed 20-something young man, his gaze locked on the shelves and his face turning a bright red. By that time my daughter had made her way down the aisle, heard the exchange and we were chuckling. The young man laughed at my mistake with us then quickly headed away from us. I said "I guess you'll come back to this aisle later?" He nodded and hurried away. Talk about an embarassing moment for me and for him!
I think our Creator made us to be looking for something; asking questions and looking for answers. Why are we here on this planet at this time in this specific place? Hopefully, I am not the only one who has struggled with this. Why do I live on this street? What is my purpose anyway? Am I useful? My kids are grown, I no longer have a job and a ministry I have been involved in for most of my life will probably end in the next year or so. What's next? Right now, I am going through a time of all that wondering.
In the midst of all this wondering, I have peace. My peace comes from a belief in the work of Jesus on the cross and I know he is working out his best for me. That sounds like a simple answer to a complex question and I guess it really is. That doesn't mean I sit back and just wait to see what happens. It does mean that I take an active role examining opportunities that come my way in this life. As long as I am alive there are needs to be met and I can help meet them. A lot of how we deal with live is how we view it - perspective.
About 10 years ago, I used to hate to iron. Hated, hated, hated it. Then, my husband, the new guy at a new job got laid off. It was just a few months after 9/11 and the company was greatly impacted. Suddenly, he didn't need ironed shirts. Back to now. About every other week I get out my iron and press his shirts. Every time, I remember that time and this task I hated and complained about has become a reminder of how blessed we are. Perspective. It is a vital component of our thinking.
Back to what's next. In the next few months I will have the priviledge to be Grandma for the 5th and 6th times. What better purpose is there? At this time of not working, I am meeting more of my neighbors as I spend more time outside. It is a good feeling to know that my neighbors can and will call me, to meet a need or to just visit for a little bit. I also have the time to work on my yard and have started a landscaping project in the back yard. Do I want to work again? Yes. Some days I go "stir-crazy" it feels like. I also want to make the most of my time in the ministry I love. I am blessed to be married to the Man of my Dreams, my best friend and a wise man of integrity. Some parts of life are rough, but I know how blessed I am. I Peter 5:6-11 comes to mind.
I guess we are always looking for something in our lives. A job, if we don't have one; a spouse if we don't have one and it goes on. That day in Wal-Mart I was looking for a life changing moment. The young man was also, I suppose. Some are looking for money or success. Some are looking for a purpose.
Oh, the pregnancy test was negative, that time. The Grands came when they were purposed to arrive. But, the question is still a good one to ask: Did you find what you are looking for?
In the midst of all this wondering, I have peace. My peace comes from a belief in the work of Jesus on the cross and I know he is working out his best for me. That sounds like a simple answer to a complex question and I guess it really is. That doesn't mean I sit back and just wait to see what happens. It does mean that I take an active role examining opportunities that come my way in this life. As long as I am alive there are needs to be met and I can help meet them. A lot of how we deal with live is how we view it - perspective.
About 10 years ago, I used to hate to iron. Hated, hated, hated it. Then, my husband, the new guy at a new job got laid off. It was just a few months after 9/11 and the company was greatly impacted. Suddenly, he didn't need ironed shirts. Back to now. About every other week I get out my iron and press his shirts. Every time, I remember that time and this task I hated and complained about has become a reminder of how blessed we are. Perspective. It is a vital component of our thinking.
Back to what's next. In the next few months I will have the priviledge to be Grandma for the 5th and 6th times. What better purpose is there? At this time of not working, I am meeting more of my neighbors as I spend more time outside. It is a good feeling to know that my neighbors can and will call me, to meet a need or to just visit for a little bit. I also have the time to work on my yard and have started a landscaping project in the back yard. Do I want to work again? Yes. Some days I go "stir-crazy" it feels like. I also want to make the most of my time in the ministry I love. I am blessed to be married to the Man of my Dreams, my best friend and a wise man of integrity. Some parts of life are rough, but I know how blessed I am. I Peter 5:6-11 comes to mind.
I guess we are always looking for something in our lives. A job, if we don't have one; a spouse if we don't have one and it goes on. That day in Wal-Mart I was looking for a life changing moment. The young man was also, I suppose. Some are looking for money or success. Some are looking for a purpose.
Oh, the pregnancy test was negative, that time. The Grands came when they were purposed to arrive. But, the question is still a good one to ask: Did you find what you are looking for?
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Lorrie. This is great and I love the analogy, it also reminds me of how we can be so rapped up in how something is going to benefit us, that we forgot to stop and take a look around. HA. Excellent heads & Tails story - though I still don't know exactly what it means. I love the laughter and the lesson in this piece. Blessings to you gmaHey T - I thought I had already responded to your comment. Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm not sure I know what H&T is either! Blessings back at you!
Lovely article.Thank you, Arlene, for reading and commenting.
Lovely. Heart. Full of Heart. Consciousness. Reflection. Nothing like time and distance and older age to grant us perspective. And you are a beautiful manifestation of all of these.Thank you, Christofer. I appreciate your kind comments. I think you are right - as we get older, our perspective changes. I think we then appreciate where were are in life.
A time of reflection - in Wal-Mart. I see a new commercial coming . . .
Seriously though, Lorrie, lovely telling of a matured thought process, of reflection on all that is good and right. Loved your article.Thanks Heidi. That poor guy! And I wanted to drop through the floor, but we all chose to laugh. Guess that is good. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. It was fun to write and had me thinking things through as I was writing. Have a great Thursday!
Sometimes, in all our rushing about to find what we are looking for, we overlook what God has for us. The Bible says, "Be still and know that I am God." Many people say that God has a plan for our lives; I like to say that, more than a plan, which can be too limiting, He has a purpose. Having a purpose gives us so much more flexibiltiy about the plan..Each of us are individuals and not one plan suits everybody, but the same purpose might. Once we know God's purpose for our life, it is easier to find what we are looking for, because we have so much freedom to choose our own plan.Well said, David. Sometimes the "Be still" part is forced upon us, but we all need times of rest to learn and even just rest. Two days a week I watch 2 of my Grandsons so my daughter can work part time. I have realized, for now, that is my purpose. It wouldn't necessarily be my first choice, but it is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
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