How the Pendulum Swung

How the Pendulum Swung

The morning began like all mornings do; the sun comes up, the bladder calls and energy begins to surge in my rested body. After the morning routine, which for me included quiet worship time in the hallway, and four words for the first Treasure Hunt (blue hat, yellow flowers), the team got on the road to meet the Lutz's, who are regional coordinators for The River Fellowships, in Cary, NC. 

Photo by Missy Smith MS2 Photography

They got to know each one of us first by asking questions about what we expected to see during the trip. Then they spoke encouraging words and words of wisdom, which in retrospect, I could have heeded a little more attentively. (more on that later).

image from advantagepcrtp.com

Then we got on the road to Atlanta. The Garwin GPS system took us through Cary and out through stop and go suburbia. We needed to stop at Trader Joe's for ginger chews or something gingery for nausea and there was a man with a blue hat passing by the sidewalk near the entrance. “No, he's not it.” Then I saw yellow sunflowers at the entrance to the store. And there she was: a beautiful woman wrapped in a blue head scarf that flowed into her skirt standing in front of the bright yellow flowers. And I did not say a word, I did not make a connection. I merely acknowledged in my head, there is a lady with a blue head piece by yellow flowers, that's her. And nothing. No word. No eye contact at all. No action on it, I walked past. When I re-considered talking to her and what would I say, she was no longer there. Gone. Opportunity lost. Oh dear. Sigh. On the way out into the parking lot I resolved to be bold next time. Then I got the idea to paint her so I would not forget the lesson. “She may have been a teachable-lesson moment,” Lesa remarked.

At the prompting of Virginia Anne, I brought watercolor pencils and ink pen to record paintings of pertinent, memorable moments along the way. “I know what my first painting's gonna be,” I said, “That woman standing with the blue head scarf by the yellow flowers. Next time, I will be more bold and say something.” 

Image by Lesa

On the road again, I painted the impression of the woman. 

When the Garwin GPS indicated we were nearly 3 hours from our destination, Lesa said that she felt before the trip began that we would stop about 3 hours from our destination. That place happened to be Gaffney, SC. Lesa said she felt strongly that we need to pay close attention to what God is doing here. And I heard “Red hair.” We stopped for coffee here, bought coffee, and went outside to drink it. There was a woman in the back of the coffee shop that had reddisher hair than anyone else and she was working but her hair was not clearly red. “What do we do?” I asked.” “Let's just wait out here and see what comes up.” About 15 minutes later, a woman drives up to park across the parking lot to our left, thinks again, pulls back out, and pulls right next to us instead. She stepped from her car. No mistaking it, her hair,  flaming bottle red. That's her! 

As she walked up, I got up to meet her. “No, wait,” Lesa said,” Do you know what you are going to say?” “Yes, I do,” I replied, as I continued to walk toward the young woman. “This may seem a little weird,” I said, “It's a little weird for me, too. We were driving from Cary, NC, and knew we needed to stop here and find a person with red hair. That's you.” Her eyes got wide. This is where it got painfully awkward. I extended my hand to introduce myself. “Is this a good time?” I queried. Cara replied, “I am heading to the beach right now, I am meeting my boyfriend here first.” Not wanting the moment to be lost, I quickly asked, “Do you need prayer for anything?” “No, I am good,” she resisted, while backing up a bit and glancing nervously ahead at the door. “I used to work at a church. My life is going pretty good right now.” Then Lesa chimed in and said, “Can we buy you a cup of coffee?” “No” she said, quickly, “My boyfriend works here, I get my coffee free anyway.” “Maybe we are here just to tell you hi and God loves you,” Lesa said, as Cara began walking away. “No, I am good,” she said as she disappeared in to the store.

And that, my friends, is how the pendulum swung. 

It was not the result any of us wanted. It was awkward for her, awkward for the team; everyone felt uncomfortable, much like being at a business network deal and being sold something you have absolutely no interest in. The next time I will be more balanced. I went from one extreme, from walking away from the clues, totally ignoring the Treasure, to jumping right into someone's personal space without even a casual conversation. She needed to have the opportunity to warm up to us first before she could receive God's goodness and His personal touch. Sigh. Next time. There will be a next time and I don't have to be the one who hears the clues and make something happen. This is a learning deal here. I expect that by the time we get to the tornado ravaged areas, we will be experts and working more effectively as a team, each in our particular gifts, calling and discernment.

Back in the car, Lesa said for us to begin to ask the Lord for our next clues. In Atlanta, we are looking for brown cowboy, cowboy boots, blue Hawaiian flower shirt, stop n now, marriage. More clues may be coming, such as what we are to say, what is the personal message for that person and what location we will find the person, situational details about that person and so on. 

Now that the pendulum swung from one extreme to another, may it land right in the middle next time, and capture a heart ready, and open to see, and receive God's Goodness and Love.

Father, thank you for learning situations such as these that build confidence in not only hearing from you and acting on it, but proficiency in demonstrating your goodness, as well. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. So be it, Lord. 

                                               Coming through downtown Atlanta, GA