LOST IN TEMECULA

"You are my hiding place, you will protect me..." Psalm 32:7

      The evening began with great anticipation.  My friend Waneta and I had planned to meet at the theater to see the movie "Shadowlands", the C.S. Lewis Story, in downtown Temecula, California.  Because her car had a flat tire, her husband had dropped her off by the theater and said, "Lenore, would you mind giving Waneta a ride Home?"  I assured him, "Of course, I don't mind."   I completely forgot that it would be dark when the movie was over.

      As I dropped Waneta off at the house their family had just recently moved to, she said, "You know the way out of here, don't you?  Go down Candida and take Rancho Vista to Ranch California Road."

      It sounded simple enough, but I must have missed a turn somewhere because Candida did not run into Rancho Vista; instead I found myself on Mira Loma, and in the dark, as I proceeded left on Mira Loma, I never did find Rancho Vista.  I drove and drove, passing one new housing development after another, until I came to an intersection with an Arco Mini Mart on one corner.

      I inquired as to how to reach Rancho California Road from a man pumping gas into his van.  He said, "Go left for about two miles."  His directions did not bring me to Rancho California Road.  I prayed, "Oh God, please get me out of this scary situation.  I am lost and afraid in this dark, unfamiliar territory."

      As I drove up and down the dark streets, looking for some familiar landmark I recalled the man's remark at the gas station.  He had said, "It is so easy to get lost around here, especially at night."

      This brought to mind a map given to me by another friend living in one of the new tracts in the area.  At the time I remarked, "This looks like a giant maze, the way it circles in intricate patterns.  One housing tract runs into the next, separated only by a wall, or, maybe a brushy canyon.

      By now panic was overtaking me, and as I sat in my car crying, a feeling of being trapped like a cornered animal swept over me, and I said with a trembling voice, "God, I can't trust You to get me out of this dangerous situation, can I?"   Fear is such a powerful emotion.  It can render you immobile.  With tears running down my face, I just sat there at the stiop sign, doubting that God would come to my rescue.

      As cars approached the intersection, which was a four-way stop, they waited for me to take my turn, then finally crossed in front of me as I sat there as if frozen in time.  I rolled the window down thinking, I'll yell for help at the next car that comes by.  That suddenly seemed more dangerous than just driving around in hopes of finding a road that would lead me back to town.

      It was nearly an hour since I had dropped Waneta off at her house.  I could not just sit there at that intersection forever, so I crossed it and proceeded slowly along another street.  While straining my eyes to see the dimly lit street signs which were partly obscured by shadowy tree branches, I began praying again.

      After several blocks, I decided to turn right and drove slowly down a hill.  At the bottom of the hill I saw a barely visible sign which said "Rancho California Road."  My heart was pounding as I realized I was no longer lost.  God had answered my prayer after all.

      As I drove up the freeway toward home I started crying again because I realized I do not trust God completely.  Since there was never anyone in my whole life I was able to trust, it has been a terrific struggle for me to believe God can be trusted.

      A feeling of hopelessness swept over me as I lay in bed, unable to sleep because I was so unnerved by the evening's events.  It was devastating to discover that in the short span of an hour my level of trust appeared to be at zero.

      For quite a few days I felt distressed about my lack of trust.   Suddenly an exciting thought popped into my mind, as though a light had flashed on.  I almost shouted, "Wait a minute,  This is just a temporary setback."

      Scenes from past experiences flooded my mind;  scenes where God revealed how trustworthy He is by answering my prayers in some very unusual circumstances.  For instance, I recall numerous times while traveling in China God heard my cries for help and answered in astounding ways much to my amazement.

      Getting lost on a dark night in Temecula was just an isolated incident where I let fear dominate my thinking instead of trusting the Lord.  I choose to believe my God is able to protect me and deliver me from any trouble.  He is my hiding place!