Do you overlook the obvious at times? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost my glasses, only to discover them on top of my head. Or I’ve searched for my cell phone . . . while I was talking on it. Maybe my age is catching up with me, or I need to learn to slow down at times.
But I also remember losing a few important things when I was much younger, like my three-year-old son in the mall. I almost had a panic attack. I learned a hard lesson that day, trying to shop with a curious toddler and a sleepy baby.
Distractions and forgetfulness can happen at any age. A few weeks ago, I forgot to refill a prescription, and I missed my daily dose of medication. When I picked up the prescriptions at the drive-through pharmacy, I pulled both bottles of pills out of the shopping bag, retrieved my needed dose, and pitched both bottles into my purse. Then, I drove away and continued my errands.
When I returned home, I dug through my purse to get my medication. But I couldn’t find one of the pill bottles. Had I already taken them out of my purse? I couldn’t remember, How could I have paid no attention to where I placed them earlier? Where could that bottle be? Am I overlooking the obvious?
Searching. I retraced my steps from the previous day, beginning with my vehicle. It was way passed time to clean out my car. So I vacuumed out the cracker crumbs dropped over the last few weeks by my grandkids. But I found nothing but few candy wrappers and a couple of coins.
Next, I asked my husband, Dan, to check his car, since I’d been in his car the previous evening. I even requested that Dan check his car trunk. I had placed my purse in there at one point. But no luck there either.
Where else did I take my purse? I had met my daughter and daughter-in-law for lunch at a local restaurant, where the grandkids played on their indoor playground. So, I called the restaurant to ask if they had found my meds. The manager checked the booth where I had been seated. Nothing.
Where could I have dropped that bottle? The other bottle was still safe at the bottom of my purse. Perhaps I left my purse unzipped at some point, and the other bottle dropped out. I searched every room of my home. I finally gave up and called the pharmacy to request a replacement prescription (if possible), knowing I’d have to pay full price, without insurance coverage this time.
When I picked up my meds again, I was grateful the pharmacy only charged me the regular price I normally paid for the pills. And when I put my substitute prescription in my medicine container, I continued to wonder how could I have forgotten where I placed my original bottle of pills.
The next morning, I decided to refill my daily pill container. So, I pulled out all my medications again. To my surprise, I discovered the missing bottle of pills, along with all of my other medication and vitamins. Where did it come from? Was it there all along, and I just overlooked it?
Direction. Sometimes it takes a crisis to get my attention. But often some of my greatest lessons come during everyday life. When I fail to just slow down and focus on what matters most, I often get confused or distracted.
When I think of overlooking the obvious, I’m also reminded of my ongoing search for direction in my writing life. I get so confused with all the ideas and distractions that come my way. So, I have been praying for clear direction.
Perhaps the Lord is telling me that the answer to my prayer for direction is right under my nose.
A few days later, I did it again–I couldn’t find the shoes I wanted to wear. The first place I looked was where they should have been–in my closet. But I couldn’t see them when I looked. So, the search began–in my office, under my chair in the den, in the bathroom–but to no avail.
These searches make me weary. I misplace a lot of things these days–my glasses, my cell phone, my keys, my shoes, and more. I tend to overlook the obvious. Most of the time I trace my steps right back to the first place I looked and find them there.
When I walked back into my closet looking for my shoes, they appeared right on the shelf where they belonged–in the first place that I had looked. Once again, I had failed to notice the obvious.
Questions. What’s the lesson here? Am I going crazy? Am I getting paid back for all the times I made fun of my husband for losing his things?
Or is this a direct message to me to slow down and think through things before I jump to conclusions and panic? How can I find peace and be certain that I’m not ignoring God’s guidance? Am I hearing from the Lord correctly when I ask for direction?
The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make . . . (Col. 3:15 GNT)
Did my story of overlooking the obvious remind you of something from your own life?
