You Are Not Alone

My dear friend, Maureen, is a gifted writer.  Each day I am one of many blessed to receive her heart as she pours forth from her keyboard.  I wanted today's blog to be from her.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And He replied,
"Go out into the darkness and put thine hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to thee better than any light
and safer than any known way."
~M.L. Haskins

     Years ago, when I homeschooled the children, we belonged to a weekly enrichment group which offered classes taught by parents.  These group experiences offered a contrast to the home learning situation and expanded the areas in which our children could participate.  Art, music, drama, debate, theme papers, theme subjects, and on and on.  One of our classes for the pre-school/kindergarten group was called "Community Helpers".  I was blessed to be one of the assistants in that class, and I still remember vividly what I learned as part of it.

     One of the weeks, we invited a police officer to come and present to the little ones.  He was young, soft-spoken and exuded kindness.  He interacted beautifully with the children, showing respect and consideration for them and how their young minds would be both curious, frightened and in awe of his uniform and weapons.  One by one, the officer explained what he wore and how the items would be used in the course of duty.  The children's eyes were huge.  I was delighted that they could see the finest qualities of respect emanating from this young man who took the significance of his role so seriously.  But I was blown away by what he shared at the end of his presentation.

     After explaining all about the things he wore and how they helped him do his duty, he quietly explained one more thing.  He told the children that many times his job requires him to enter scary places, like dark buildings with lots of shadows and places for people to hide who may want to hurt him.  He pointed out that he often must enter those buildings all alone; never knowing what might be waiting for him.  The young, strong officer said that the MOST important thing that he takes with him on the job is God.  He shared that, after he puts on his uniform each day, the last thing he does is to pray and put on the protection of God.  He explained that it is way more powerful than any club or gun.  He said that lots of times he is really afraid but he knows that if God goes with him, it is his best protection.  He ended by telling the children that there will be places they will be scared, but that they, too, can take the protection of God with them.  It made the Scripture about "the armor of God" suddenly and profoundly come alive for me.

     In my mind, I have blessed that young officer so many times since then.  His testimony has given me courage, too.  I pray that he has many opportunities to witness to others...both young and old...who need to cling to that certainty.

     Lately, through a variety of circumstances, I have been thinking heavily about all the times we must face things alone.  With our children, there are times we must stand still and watch them walk away from us to a new stage in life (from kindergarten to college to marriage to ministry and vocation to join the armed forces, and so on).  We must stand by and watch them bravely step into fearful, painful places with lots of shadows.  I recently had to watch my daughter disappear behind the big swinging doors in the hospital operating room...now that she is 18, I am kept out and am only summoned when it is all over.  My friend, JoAnn, watched as her son, Nick, stepped away to board a plane to take him halfway around the world to Hawaii.  His second time flying; his first time flying alone.  Many of my friends must face the lonely car ride home as their children get settled in dorm rooms.  My friend, Cathy, shared a photo of her granddaughter standing proud...and alone...as she was sworn in as a Marine.  Watching our children bravely step away seems to be such a universally hard moment.

     But, even as seasoned adults, there are so many moments in life that, no matter how much those who love us want to share the experience with us; to "be there" with us, we must go through things alone.  We must face trials at work alone.  We must pick up the phone when the doctor calls and receive the pathology results alone.  We must be put under anesthesia alone. We must jump out of all kinds of planes alone.  Whether or not there are people "around us", we must say goodbye to a loved one alone and watch the casket lid close alone.  We must step into eternity alone.  The word "alone" also has had new and piercing meaning for me lately.

     But, our gracious God has used that concept to firmly establish the fact that I truly am NEVER alone.  He goes with me into all things; into all the shadows, into all the fires, out of all the planes. And He will never leave me, no matter how scorching the fire or how constant the echoes of evil; He dispels the darkness.  He quiets the voices within me that seek to terrorize me.  He holds my hand.  He holds me close. The Lord replaced the five letters of the word "alone" with five words to cling to with certainty:  "I will NEVER leave you."  And holding tight to that promise, I step out into the darkness and safely make it through to the Light.