BLINDSIDED


This sports picture captures the meaning of blindsided perfectly.  He did not see it coming.  There have been two distinct times in my life I was blindsided.  I am currently living in the midst of the second one and beginning to wonder just how long I will be groping my way through it.  Truthfully~did you ever in your wildest dreams consider we would be living in the midst of a pandemic?


Was it EVER on your radar that a microscopic particle--one the human eye could not see--would come along and turn the world upside down?  Unless you are some soothsayer, I doubt it occurred to you--and it certainly was not in my play book.

Can you just imagine the panic packing when the Israelites were told---"OK, you can leave".  Hundreds of years of accumulation and probably a few hours to pack it all up.  God's people had grown complacent and accustomed to not only living in exile and slavery, but had lost hope in ever escaping.  NOW they were blindsided by the announcement, GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER AND GET OUT OF TOWN.


When they finally accepted the fact they were truly escaping their cruel taskmasters, the panic packing began.  I envision the donkey slowly pulling off as the last few things were thrown toward the cart.  


Can you even begin to imagine what the trail looked like after 40 years of hiking through the wilderness?  God's chosen were blindsided and not ready for the big move.  During the 40 year shuffle, they began to discover things they did not really need---feel the burden of the stuff they thought they could not live without.  I would bet the sloughing off began within the first few miles.  With every additional footfall, there was serious consideration given to exactly what was truly important to drag along.  The first true minimalists were part of the great exile out of Egypt.  If you must carry it on your back, the question of necessity becomes of upmost importance.

YES, we are living through a pandemic.  The first one since the Spanish flu pandemic of the early 1900's.  We have all been blindsided and the world seems to have gone crazy.  BUT GOD!  There is something to be learned in all of this.  There certainly is plenty of time to consider what God is teaching--if you are  being considerate of your neighbors and adhering to the rules.  I have spent more time alone the past six months than any other time in my life.  Plenty of time to think and pray.  Plenty of time to seek God.  What have I been dragging around that needs to be left behind?  Not just what stuff, but what negative emotion, what long held grudge, what baggage which should have been cast aside long ago?  Time to throw off anything which stands between a deeper relationship with my family, my friends and especially my God.  Praying I can lighten the load and grow in these uncertain times.  Though I may have been blindsided--there are no surprises for God.  Looking for the lesson--always looking for the lesson.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of His heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:11


6 comments

  1. Continuing Blindsidness...sigh...it is what it is, Lulu...great post my friend.

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    1. But is there some good in the midst of it all?
      Blessings!

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  2. Like you, Lulu, I've been reevaluating the "baggage" I've been carrying, and re-calibrating my relationship with the Lord. Yes, being blindsided is NOT a fun thing, nor easily understood. I've been missing my grandgirls so much, I can't even begin to put it into words. But I do believe that good always triumphs over evil, and we will see the light shining at the end of the tunnel as God holds His hands of hope and redemption out to all of us.
    Blessings, my friend!

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  3. This is so true! A time of reflection for all of us!

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    Replies
    1. Hopefully we will take the time to learn more about ourselves!
      Blessings!

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!