Bread Crumbs

So I have a new favorite TV show.....not that I can watch it. At least watch it live that is. We don't have cable anymore nor an antenna yet so we don't really have TV right now. And you know what? We're not missing it at all. Haven't even thought about what I'm missing. We still watch a DVD now and then or catch a show on Hulu.com, but I think we'd be fine without even an antenna to watch local shows. But my wife and I do still love a current show so we do watch the episodes a day or two late on Hulu. It's called "Once Upon A Time." Anybody else watching it? Somebody is because it's doing fairly well from what I read. It's an extremely clever show.....very entertaining and intriguing. Basically, there's a town up North and every person who lives there is a fairy tale character. They just don't know it. Or some don't. Some might. That's part of the mystery. Each week we see what's happening in the town and a flashback to a certain character's fairy tale. And they are all connected somehow. Anyway, I probably made it sound confusing, but it's really not. It's a great show. A few weeks ago, the story was Hansel and Gretel. We watched the classic fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel while also watching the same 2 children's story in the modern day town. If you remember that story, part of it includes Gretel (or is it Hansel?) leaving a trail of bread crumbs so that the two can remember their way home. Unfortunately, the birds eat the crumbs making them useless. Also reminds me of that Brady Bunch episode in Hawaii where Bobby leaves a popcorn trail after the three boys get lost trying to return that cursed statue. Remember that one? Ok, I'm getting off subject.

So let me go another direction for a second. About a week ago, I went out for a run. Yes, I'm still running. I've done 3 miles several times now. Haven't made it to 4 yet but soon, this weekend perhaps. Foot is great. I'm coming back. Praise God. Anyways, I went out late one night last week and got about 1/4 mile from home when I noticed a car stopped in the middle of the street with its lights on. That's happened to me before and I always wonder what I'm going to come up on while running. This time it was a man out of his car holding one gigantic dog and trying to leash another of the same size. He was using his car lights to see. I almost ran past because he didn't look to be in the mood to chat, but I decided to stop and ask if he needed help. He told me he thought these two dogs were lost. He had seen them wondering in the neighborhood and didn't know who they belonged to. They were nice, big, healthy dogs, but no ID tags, only collars. He had gotten one of them, but the other was very hesitant to come close. I asked if he wanted me to hold the one while he tried to get the other. He said yes and thanks. I held the big black one. It was almost bigger than me. I watched him attempt to get the other. He had food and was slowly luring it closer, but it always backed up and away at the last second. I took my eyes away for one second to pet the one I had and talk to it a little. That's when I felt the 2nd one nuzzling the back of my legs. Apparently my talking had lured it to me. It wanted petting and attention too. So I grabbed its collar. I had them both. The man ran over quickly and put the 2nd leash on it and thanked me again. He said he would put them in his car and keep them at his house until the owner was found. I started to run again as I watched him head toward his car. Small problem - those big dogs weren't getting into his small, hatchbacked car. No way. He asked me how far I was planning to go. I narrowed my eyes, wondering the intent of his question, although I was pretty sure I knew. He then asked the inevitable question......can you run these dogs to my house while I drive home? Did you really just ask me that? Of course I said yes. I wasn't going to leave this poor man alone with 2 Goliath dogs and one teency car they wouldn't get into. So I ran. With 2 dogs. Not easy I must say. But I did it...for another 1/4 mile or so to his house. It actually went better than I thought it would. I wondered while I ran.....what if this man takes off and leaves me with these dogs? What if he's nowhere to be found when I get to where his "house" is? I saw in my mind the look on my wife's face when I brought home these two beasts......'he better be there,' I thought. Luckily, he was. I gave him the dogs and headed on. What an adventure. It just goes to show you never know what's going to happen while out running. That's one of the reasons I love it. I told my wife the story when I got home and I honestly never thought I'd hear about the dogs again. Skip ahead to the next day. I am teaching one of my classes when an email from a co-teacher pops up on my screen. Her son and daughter-in-law are missing their 2 dogs. She describes them and asks me and a few others to keep an eye out as they live close to us. Wow. Small World. Again. Long story short....too late I know.....I told her my story, she told her son and daughter in law, they go to the man's house, the dogs are back home safe. They found their way home. What are the chances that I go running at that time, take that route, stop and help that man, work with that teacher, live in that neighborhood, get that email, and it's the same dogs. All coincidences? I don't know. It sure was a lot to just fall into place. I think maybe God had a hand in making sure those dogs got back home safe. And he used me in the process. I know it was just dogs some would say, but I know for a lot of people, dogs are family. And there may have even been prayers going up to help those dogs get home. And they did.
So....to tie it all together........the dogs, Hansel and Gretel, the bread crumbs......it all reminded me that we can always find our way back to God. He never leaves us or forsakes us. (Deut. 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Luke 15....the Lost (or Prodigal) Son. I love that story because I am that lost son. I write today confessing sin. I am a sinner and God knows it. Even though I want to be perfect and I want to do good, I mess up, sometimes in big ways. I often feel so guilty and wonder how God could ever forgive me again. He's already done it so many times. Will this one be the last? But there is no last. He always forgives. (I John 1:9). And no that doesn't mean I can keep sinning (Rom. 6:1). But when I slip up and am sincere in asking for forgiveness, He forgives. Always. NO matter how far I stray, God always leaves a trail of bread crumbs to find my way home. No matter how far the lost son traveled from home and how far in debt and depression he got, he knew he could always go home. And his father welcomed him. And our Father welcomes us. Those bread crumbs won't be eaten by birds this time. They won't disappear. They will lead you back to God every single time. And just like the father in the parable, He'll be there with open arms. Isn't God great?!

We serve a loving, forgiving God. And I don't know about you, but I want to follow Him and do right for Him.....simply because He loves and forgives so much. If you're lost, don't stay lost too long. Find the bread crumbs. Find God. He's waiting.

I love God, Griffin, my Girl, and my Guys.

Keep runnin'. The PRIZE awaits. (Php. 3:14)

-Albert