Slideshow image

Have you ever thought you had lost something truly important?  This situation recently happened to me.  I was working on a new project for my organization when the team informed me that I had to submit a current resume as a supporting document.  No problem.  I keep a digital resume on my USB flash drive—a little touch up and I will be finished.  So I reached into my workbag and pulled out four drives (Yes, I know how ridiculous having four flash drives sounds).  I put the first flash drive in the computer and searched the files, but no resume files were there.  Strike one!  I scanned the second drive with the same result and proceeded through all four drives without finding any resume files.  Strike two, three and four!   

By this time, I was panicky because I remembered there were also personal and financial documents on the flash drive.  I texted Judy asking her to look for any flash drives on my dresser.  She replied there was one there.  Great, mystery solved!  I arrived home after work and checked out the fifth flash drive but no resume files.  This flash drive had our Hawaii vacation photos and movies on it.  I was glad to rediscover them and put them in a safer place, but not what I was after.  Strike five!

So, I searched the computer nook area, looked in an old work bag destined for the thrift shop, and rifled through every file folder in the filing cabinet.  I struck out so many times now I have lost count.  Plus, I am so frazzled I cannot think about anything else but that missing flash drive.

Back at work on Friday morning, I was still puzzled about where the flash drive could be.  However, I had remembered the missing flash drive’s color and brand name. So now armed with this information I was off hunting again.  I checked everywhere but no flash drive.  The day ended without finding it.  Over the weekend I checked old work files, my truck’s cab, my workshop and boxes I had not opened in years.  But no drive.

Monday morning, I searched my sent email folder and found a copy of the resume from 2018.  A couple of years old but much better than writing it from scratch.  I updated it and posted it to the working group’s shared file.  I was still distressed about the missing drive, but I had met the deadline.

Home alone that Monday evening (by now you should have realized that I cannot let go of this missing drive) I looked around the bedroom and thought where haven’t I searched?  I saw my nightstand which is full of little trinkets that I have been given over the years on the top and books on the bottom shelf.  I picked up each item one at a time but no joy. 

While I was on my knees looking at the bottom shelf, I spotted a green plastic bag beside the nightstand.  I picked it up and dumped the contents onto the bed.  I saw all this stuff lying there that had been in my work bag, but I had removed before my Philadelphia trip in March.  I picked up the papers in the pile and there was the missing USB flash drive!  Then it dawned on me, I had removed it from the bag so I would not take it on the trip and possibly lose it.  Oh, how ironic. 

So, I close with Jeremiah 29:13 and I like the way the Message translation amplifies the verse,

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree— “bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.”    

Blessings!

Pastor Terry