FINDING MY WAY BACK HOME

Dawn’s hum stirred me gently at first, then rudely threw her light at my reality: I was alone in a strange bed, still wearing last night’s clothes, covered in shame. 

Gripping my pounding head, trying to remember how I got there, emptiness and guilt raged ruthless behind my eyes and bludgeoned my soul.  

Barely 18, I had already lost my way Home.

A few wrong turns the night before had led me to a place where I lost control of myself and my car, spinning hard through the trees until God caught us both in a deep, muddy ditch.

Now stranded in an unfamiliar place, I came upon some hard-learned wisdom and a rotary phone. To get back to where I should be, I needed someone that loved me to take me there. 

A tear of relief escaped onto my shaking hand as I dialed Daddy’s number by heart.

He quickly left work, found and brought me back to where I had buried his trust. We surveyed the scene silently, side by side.

Then he shocked me as he opened the door, motioning for me to get back behind the wheel - the very place I no longer belonged. He planted his polished shoes into the muck, squared his shoulders and began to push. 

We worked together that morning -rocking back and forth, gaining an inch at a time - until the wet earth agreed to release me, spitting in protest all over my sweet dad.

The rescue complete, his hand lingered on the door for just a moment as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t have to. The sermon of redemption he preached to me that day was delivered silently in self-sacrifice and loving turquoise eyes.

It showed me the way Home.

As I started the engine, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw him standing there watching me go, wearing a once perfect starched white shirt, made muddy to set me free.

And I knew in my heart, he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16