beWARM

With the holidays unwrapped and decorations tucked away for another year, 2012 is already a few days into its life cycle.

I truly hope that all of your celebrations during the past weeks were clothed in love and warmth. We just returned from a Pacific Northwest Lovefest with our precious grandchildren, daughters, and sons-in law – family time to treasure!

While there wasn’t much time for quiet reflecting, one Scripture verse in my daily devotional has kept revisiting my mind.

Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us] To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace. ~Luke 1:78-79 (Amplified Bible)

For some odd reason, this verse dredged up a childhood memory, making me recall how household chores ceased for 30 minutes after lunch when Search For Tomorrow and The Guiding Light were on television. ( I am really dating myself here!)

My Mom and my Grandma called these their “shows”…and during these 15 minute episodes, talking was not an option. It was high (and fast!) drama for these soaps, with those cliff-hanger moments arriving all too soon, it seemed.

Both of these programs ran for decades, eventually increasing their time slots to 30, then 60 minutes. I was hooked for a few years, especially when housebound with a new baby.

After a time, the allure faded. The characters became predictable, the drama melodramatic.  I quit watching, but many others didn’t.

Why did it take all those years to find Tomorrow? And, darn it, where was that Guiding Light?

Fast forward 50 years…and here we sit, still in pursuit.

All of us seek fulfillment and fullness of life. We wonder what our tomorrows will bring. Mountains of books hold the promise of self-improvement, ultimate happiness, and independence.

I have read more than a few…and have benefited from them, to be sure.

But the question beckons…what lodestar is guiding me?

God has frequently “beamed me up” when I have wandered off course, and I am always thankful.  I then wonder what precipitated this loss of vision in the first place.

Are God’s directions sometimes so blindingly clear that we fail to see them? Or faint enough for us to easily ignore?  And are we following a signal that is leading us closer to God?

What lights up your life?  Are you sure of your direction? God is so pleased when we travel the path He sets before us.

He offers His megawatts of love and warmth to us – luminosity for everyone to enjoy.  Let’s turn toward Him so we can receive His generous gift of Direction.

And, paraphrasing the well-loved holiday poem…

Blessed New Year to All…and to All, The True Light!