“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6

“By day you lead them with a pillar of cloud,
and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light
on the way there were to take.”
-Nehemiah 9:12

I say it now as always, as though it is not as frequently the norm that it tends to be in my life…and really, in all lives, that life is ever-shifting and ever-evolving.  Our paths, as much as we may (or may not) aim for the straight and narrow, are so much more complex and convoluted in the actual journeying, should we venture to step outside the doors of our comfort zones, or inside the depths of our hearts and minds…

I’m not sure why I ever forget that this is normal, particularly for those who are naturally inclined to self-examination and life-analysis almost 24/7 (yes, even often in my sleep…). I think lots, and analyze lots, look and explore all the different and various angles of any person or situation or relationship that happens to catch my mind’s eye.

Sometimes this is a good thing and can come in handy? Many, many times, I can’t help but shake my head at myself for over-complicating simple things and further-complicating complicated things that ultimately can’t be solved by over-complicated thinking…

Thank goodness God’s Hand is ever-present and ever-ready to step in to guide me the moment I get to the end of my own understanding and am ready to let Him make my paths straight as only He can.

Back in High School and University, one of my all-time favourite hangouts was Kinko’s Copies (with Staples not too far behind).  All these things that could be printed and copied, or printed and copied on, filled me with delight. Strange, I know. And oh so random. But so distinct was the feeling of joy I had when I was there.

I also had this encounter in Kinko’s as a young adult, so significant and etched in my heart and mind that I wonder to this day if perhaps it was an angel of sorts (or at least some type of divine appointment for sure).  I don’t remember specifics of what transpired besides a kind conversation/interaction with an older grandfatherly type of man, that for some reason ended with him wanting to pass on the following words of wisdom:

“Sometimes when you’re journeying on a path as though through a forest, there is such a thick fog in front of you, that all you can see is one step in front of where you are standing. During these types of days, don’t worry about the path ahead, just look at your feet and take one step forward at a time.

Other days, the fog and strange and heavily close and surrounding the ground at your feet, such that you can’t see your feet, nor the path below on which you stand.  During these moments, you must walk slowly and carefully so that you can feel your way with your feet as you go.  Your eyes must not bother looking down however because they are helpless to aid your feet there.  Instead, fix your eyes straight ahead into the distance towards whatever destination your path leads.

Finally, there will be days when the fog is thick all around you, top to bottom.  In those moments, it is best to stand still, and simply wait…”

I’m not sure where this story comes from (if you happen to know, I would love a reference!), but no matter, it’s message has stuck with me ever since, helping me make some sense of a journey that often refuses to be made sense of me when I attempt to do so by my own understanding.

There is a mystery to why things happen, and how, and when…and that is okay.

And when I’m unsure exactly where I’m heading, or what next step to take towards a particular goal, I don’t have to pretend to be more certain than I am, nor do I have to force a decision.

God has always shown up, and He always will.  He does happen to also often show up just in time…perhaps to stretch my faith/trust in Him just a little bit further every opportunity He has to do so in this life of mine? But yes, He has always been, and so with increasing certainty, I know He will always be, in time.

(I will post an update soon on what I’ve been and actually will be doing…now that I finally have a less foggy idea as of a couple hours ago =)!)