Are You Lost or Are You Found?
It was one of those nights where the clock wasn't in sync with
my schedule. As I was finishing getting ready to go out for the
evening, the clock was telling me I should already be there.
Maybe you've experienced them - those time warps where great
chunks disappear and no one lets you in on the secret until it's
too late.
So, I started out late and traffic was heavy. I was confident
heading to downtown Los Angeles. After all, this IS my city and
I'm at home here.
As I took my exit and tried to get to The Standard to celebrate
my magnificent friend Elsa, I ran into one obstacle after
another. All kinds of roads were barricaded and blocked. I
didn't realize the city was set up for the Marathon the next day
and, frankly, at that point I didn't care. After several failed
attempts, I felt lost even though I could see the neon lights of
the restaurant shining bright. Friendly traffic people were out
waving me on to go in directions I didn't want to go. I have to
be honest here and admit that I waved back at a few of them with
a gesture that I haven't used in years.
I was confused and lost, feeling blocked from my destination. It
was right there and I knew it, but the traffic gods weren't on
my side this night and I was about to give up and go home.
So close and, yet, so far away.
Now, the truth is that I persisted and was guided to the party
that night. But as I looked back on this experience, I was
amused to see that it was a great metaphor for life.
Sometimes we get lost and confused. We know we're REALLY close
to our destination or goal. We can feel it, see it, taste it.
We're excited about it and yet, for whatever reasons, our way
seems to be blocked and we feel we are being forced to take
endless detours.
The simple truth is that sometimes we need to ask for and be
willing to receive help. Sometimes we need to be willing to be
guided and shown the way. Sometimes we need to be open to the
idea that there is a different, better way for us to receive our
great good. Sometimes we need to remember to stay teachable.
Our goal, our destination, our success IS right there waiting
for us. Though we may be confused, we are never really lost. We
just may need to take a deep breath and be willing to go a
different way than we had originally planned.
Delay is not denial. Barricades are not impenetrable barriers.
We just need to open our eyes to see things from a different
perspective, to seek the solution instead of focusing on the
problem. We need to have people around us who have been where
we're going and are willing to show us the way.
Sometimes on the road of life we become frustrated, angry, and
confused. We may be ready to give up on our dreams and just turn
back to the familiar. In those moments we are almost blinded by
the haze of illusion that blocks us from seeing the truth.
We can always make a different choice. When we're on the road of
life and are about to give up, that's the precise moment when we
may need to take a deep breath, relax, and ask for help or
guidance. We can acknowledge that we feel confused, admit when
we feel lost, and yet stand firm in the certainty that our
perfect path, our ideal solution, will be found. Holding our
vision strong, we can then stand in the faith that we are fully
supported and that everything we need will be provided.
Absolutely everything.
Because while we know what lies behind us, without the courage
to move forward we will never know the miracles and the magic
that lies ahead.
Don't leave before the miracles happen. YOU deserve them!!!