Throughout our lives we are searching for answers. Some of our questions are philosophical in nature: Who am I? What is my purpose? Which path should I choose? Others are more practical: How should I deal with this? How will I cover this unexpected bill? What should we have for dinner?
Whether they are big or small, questions that remain chronically unanswered weigh heavy on our heart and mind. In fact, they are responsible for much of the stress we experience in life. What if we could get more of those questions answered? Would it make our life more manageable?
FINDING MARGARET
I am thoroughly fascinated by genealogy. I’ve learned way more about both history AND people, in general, through my genealogy research than I ever did in the classroom.
It all began when my husband mentioned one evening that he wished he knew more about his family. His parents and grandparents were all gone and there was no one left to ask, so I decided to see what I could find. After years of research I currently have over 20,000 names in my genealogy database. Of course, many of those are “way out there” teeny-weeny little branches on our family trees, but every one of them is incredibly interesting.
Early in my research, my husband and I took a trip to the small town in New York, where he was born and raised, on a quest to find more information about his roots. We had a wonderful time scouring local newspapers and city directories and visiting cemeteries looking for clues about his family. Little by little we were able to begin reconstructing their lives.
One of the mysteries we were intent on solving was where Bruce’s great grandmother, Margaret, was buried. His family had often talked about where other relatives were laid to rest, but he never remembered his father or grandfather talking about her final resting place.
After much searching we finally discovered that she was buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Bruce’s hometown. Mystery Solved!
NOT SO FAST!
We didn’t realize our work had only just begun. The cemetery is a very oddly shaped peninsula with a maze of winding roads and rolling hills and over 14,000 burials (that’s almost twice as many people as actually live in the town).
We searched and searched and never even found the section we were looking for. We were disappointed and ready to give up when someone at the library suggested we visit a particular funeral home in town that had a lot of old burial records.
CALLING IN THE EXPERTS
Since we were getting nowhere by ourselves, we gave in and stopped by the funeral home to see if they could give us any clues that would help us. They were wonderful. Before we knew it two members of the staff were down on their hands and knees in their three piece suits and perfectly shined shoes poring over a huge map of the cemetery they had rolled out on the floor.
Cross-checking their records they quickly zeroed in on the general area where we would find her. Much encouraged, we thanked them and prepared to leave. One of the funeral directors offered to come search with us. Very cool! So our little motorcade made its way back to the cemetery. We parked our cars and began to search the rather large area that they had pointed out. The three of us looked at every tombstone in the section, even a few that were down over the bank overlooking the river. NOTHING! Even our well-dressed guide finally gave up! We were fast becoming resigned to the idea that we would be leaving New York WITHOUT a photo of Margaret’s grave.
THE LAST RESORT
A few days later, we drove through the cemetery one last time, before heading to the airport. We were a little sad as we came around the bend toward the area we had searched so thoroughly earlier in the week. We had given it our best, even enlisted help and still STRUCK OUT.
As we neared the area we had previously searched, I blurted out “Margaret, if you want to be found, you need to jump up NOW,” followed by a quick prayer that God would show us where she was. Before I could even get the last words out, Bruce shouted. “There she is!” and slowed the car to a crawl.
Thinking he was teasing, I said “Yeah, right.”
“N0, I’m serious, she’s right THERE,” he responded, pointing out the window. We pulled over to the side of the road and hopped out. Sure enough there she was. Right beside the road . . . probably not fifteen feet BEHIND where we had parked the car the day we searched.
CONSTANT REMINDER
Was the story’s outcome earth-shattering? No, not so much. But, that little incident often comes to my mind as I’m struggling to find answers and solutions to my daily challenges.
Why is it that I (and maybe, you) often spend hours searching, figuring, asking other people, and fixating on an issue BEFORE getting God involved? Why is God, so often our LAST resort?
In Matthew 11, the Bible says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So often, I have been overwhelmed by the weightiness of life and its challenges. It felt HEAVY! So, if I’m reading it right, the heavy loads aren’t the ones God intends for me to carry. Those are the ones of my own making. They are the ones that are created when I, like a two-year-old, insist on doing it myself.
I don’t have all the answers, nor do my friends, or even the “experts.”
I am finding that as I become better at remembering that and running to God for his wisdom and direction, my burdens and stress become lighter and my energy is better spent.
Sounds good to me, how about you?
“If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5
TODAY’S CHAT: We can be greatly encouraged by the stories of others. Do you have one you could share below about finding what you were searching for when you sought God’s wisdom?
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