In the summer of 1984, I think that’s right, yes, the summer before I turned nine, we spent several weeks with my great grandmother in Iowa. GG, which is what we affectionately called her, introduced my sister and I to a game called Boggle.
There was no tv at GG’s, and so we played games like I Spy, Hide the Thimble and Boggle for literally hours on end. and we picked strawberries out in the enormous garden. But, its Boggle I still play to this day. Oh, I get such a thrill in the race against time, searching for as many words as possible – Its addicting, I tell you. like dove dark chocolate.
In fact, I just finished a round with my sister. After all this time we still love to play even though we live more than 8 hours apart. Thanks to technology we just challenge each other over our phones with a Boggle app – and we can toss in a little “trash talk” at the end. It really gets the game going… all with sisterly love, of course.
Sometimes it seems like my life is a lot like the game of Boggle. Just when I think I know whats going on, there’s a shake up. Everything gets tossed around and then, I have to start over, trying to make sense of things. I find myself searching for answers regarding my past, hoping for direction for my future. But, once again time’s up and the re-arranging continues – new words, new ideas, new circumstances and lots more questions.
The older I get, and I am getting older this week in fact, the more I realize that nothing is certain. There is one exception: God and His Word does not change. In the middle of my confusion, He is constant. The answers to my questions, the tour guide, the recipe, the flash light, if you will – He is all of these things for my life…
Here’s the rub. I am a person who likes to find my own answers. And that is a problem. In this kind of Boggle life I’m living, I’m terrible at remembering : I am not the answer to my questions. Anything that tries to tell me otherwise, well – that is only “trash talk.”
My search can only be satisfied one way.
from Psalms:
“Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
from Proverbs:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. ”
Sometimes He provides enough light for the next step on my path. But, sometimes He shines like a bright light that illuminates my night as if it is day. It can come over me slowly and quietly like a beautiful morning’s sunrise. Or it may burst on the scene boldly like an unexpected epiphany. But, whatever He provides is enough for the moment. And there is peace for my journey, when I step into that light, that is beyond any comfort I can conjure up on my own.
Lord,
Give me the courage to be dependent on You, rather than searching in the dark on my own. There’s no way I can find my way alone. When my life is turned upside down with questions and cares, keep my eyes focused on You and the way You are leading me. Help me to walk in the light that only You can provide.
amen.
If you’ll excuse me, I just got a text from my sister… I’ve got a Boggle score to settle…
md
daily portion 