Lost in the Fog
Have you experienced being lost in the fog of life? I remember two times in my life when I could not determine the direction I was to go. It is an unsettling experience to not know in what direction your destination lies. You feel a cold spot of fear growing in the pit of your stomach as terror tries to overtake your emotions. Your thoughts can spin with all kinds of dire circumstances.
Deer Camp
The first time I experienced this was at deer camp. I was fourteen years old and there with my father, uncles, grandpa, and a close family friend. I looked forward to the yearly trip to the mountains in Potter County, PA. We would stay for a week at the top of the mountain. It was the yearly male bonding time.
Our shelter was a tent made from a portion of circus tent canvas. We had a double-layer canvas floor, two large kerosene heaters, and a gas-powered generator. Practically as cozy as home!
We had arrived on Sunday afternoon and set up our camp. I wanted to look around before it got dark, so I went outside. I had walked just a short way and a fog bank settled down over the mountain. Suddenly, I had a field of vision that was only 10-12 feet. I could not determine what direction the camp was.
Nothing seemed familiar and I could feel fear rise in me. I shouted, but the fog swallowed the sound of my youthful voice. The thick fog dampened my yells, and I knew no one could hear them. Now the fear was clawing its way from my stomach to my brain.
Training Overcomes Fear
My father and the Boy Scouts had trained me well. I knew not to move because I could go out of range of our camp. I could only be a couple of hundred yards away and it was soon to be dark. The camp would know someone is lost if they weren’t back within thirty minutes after dark. The standard rule at deer camp, if you got lost, was to stay where you were, and they would “shoot” you in.
“Shooting you in” meant they would fire a shot so that you would know where the camp was. You would fire in response and then walk towards the gunshot. Fifteen minutes later, they would shoot again. You would respond once more and continue moving towards the gunshot. This would continue until you found your way back to camp.
The reason for the repeated shots was twofold. It is easy to drift off course in the dark, so you have continuous confirmation of where the camp is. Your shots would let them know you were making your way back to camp. If, after three times, your shot was still in the same place, then they knew you are hurt and needed help. They would then use the same process in reverse to find you.
Here I am, standing in the thick fog with night settling in. Time passes slowly when you are alone and disoriented. Seconds are like minutes and minutes are like hours. Suddenly, I hear pots and pans being banged together. Relief floods over my soul as I now know where to go! In mere minutes, I am back safely with my family. I then only had to endure the gentle ribbing I received from the men.
The Whiteout
Do you know what a whiteout is?
Merriam-Webster’s definition is: a surface weather condition in a snow-covered area (such as a polar region) in which no object casts a shadow, the horizon cannot be seen, and only dark objects are discernible. Also: a blizzard that severely reduces visibility.
Around twenty years ago, we had a heavy snowfall in the Tulsa area of Oklahoma. My oldest son worked at the Wal-Mart in Sand Springs; about ten miles from our home and he didn’t drive yet. The snow fell after my son was at work and there were already six or more inches on the ground.
I was not too concerned about the snow and having to drive. Being raised in Pennsylvania, I am acquainted with driving in the snow. My car was front-wheel drive, and I was confident in my ability to drive the ten miles and back.
I started on the trip to bring my son home. The snow was still falling heavily, and the wind was blowing around twenty miles an hour. I carefully made my way to the main roads; slowly, but with little difficulty. The highway between Sapulpa and Sand Springs goes up a steep hill as you are leaving Sapulpa and then travels about six miles on top of a ridge.
I make my way up the steep hill with little difficulty, not traveling fast, but steady. Deep snow was no real trouble for me, as I had driven in these conditions many times in Pennsylvania.
Blizzard conditions
I reached the top of the hill and soon reached the end of the city and the streetlights. It was very dark, and the wind was blowing directly into my windshield. The snow was coming down so heavily it reflected my headlights directly back to me. It was as if I was in a thick fog.
I could barely see as I crept forward. The blanket of snow on the ridge was so deep I could not determine the difference between the road, the median, and the ditch on the right side of the road. There were no tracks and no other cars. I realized that if I went off the road to either side, my white car would be invisible to others. I was in a tight spot and knew it.
Supernatural Guidance
As I continued driving at 10-15 miles an hour. I also started praying. I would need supernatural guidance to make it the six miles across this snow-buried ridge. Unable to see any discernible landmarks, I was at a loss on how far I had come. If I went off the road, it will be a long walk to anywhere for help.
Suddenly, as I crawled along the ridge, I felt I was getting into trouble. I stopped and put the car in neutral. Getting out, I looked around but could not discern any landmark. I walked in front of my car to the right-hand side of the road.
My tires were about ready to go into the ditch. Thanking God for His warning, I got back in the car and corrected my direction. I did this twice more before reaching city lights again. After picking up my son, the drive back was easier with the wind at our back. I could see much further and drove easily at 35 miles an hour.
Spiritual Fog
Just like when I was in the fog at deer camp, there was a time in my life when I was in a spiritual fog. It was my fault too. I had drifted away from God. I stopped attending church and not far behind that was ceasing to read my Bible and pray.
Without the spiritual food needed to feed my spirit, it lost control and my feelings and emotions took leadership of my life. I became unable to discern the proper direction for my life. I would try to talk to God, but the spiritual fog swallowed my voice up.
After a few years of this, I was tired of what I had become. I was desperate to get back to God. Instead of just talking to God, I cried out to Him in true repentance. Immediately, I heard the pots and pans of heaven being banged together. God led me back to where I belong.
It Was My Choices
I got lost in the spiritual fog because of the choices I made. After knowing the presence of the Lord, it was very fearful to not have His presence. Yet, just like He promised, the moment I cried out in my need, He answered me. God is abundant in His mercy and grace and forgives us no matter what.
Spiritual Whiteout
Now a spiritual whiteout is different. “What is a spiritual whiteout?” you might ask. It is when God leads us to do something with just the command “Go.” There are no familiar experiences to draw from. Many times, we are not naturally equipped to go and do what the Lord commanded.
There are no landmarks to guide us. There is no other traffic; we are alone, totally dependent upon God. We must listen to His Spirit and let Him guide us. As we listen, He will stop us before we get into the ditches and keep us traveling on the road He chooses.
Faith Increases
It is in the spiritual whiteouts that our faith increases. Totally depending on God and then coming out safely increases our ability to trust the Lord. Our confidence in what He tells us increases. This gives us greater capacity to be even bolder in listening to what God says.
Spiritual fogs are our fault. We put ourselves in a position where we can’t hear God. Spiritual whiteouts are God’s doing. He then puts us in a place where we can hear Him more clearly.
Avoid spiritual fogs. Enjoy the adventure of spiritual whiteouts.
Learn more about where faith begins in my article HERE.
Are you frustrated by Bible study? Learn the Easy Bible Study Method HERE.
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