Subscription Lists

Before the days of cell phones there were the walkie talkies. They were not as complex as today’s modern cell phones, but they stilled offered you the ability to communicate to someone even if they were a distance away.

In 1997, my family along with some friends of ours, decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach. Because we were taking two separate cars, we thought it would be a good idea to take walkie talkies with us―just in case one of us made a wrong turn or something. Well, I should say, in case the Chwialkowski’s made a wrong turn or something. Our friends were the expert navigators, while we barely made it out of Ohio.

During this time we visited Broadway at the Beach, where you could definitely shop till you drop. Since there was so much territory to cover, my friend and I decided to separate for awhile to do some browsing on our own. We made plans to rendezvous one hour later in front of the Build a Bear Workshop. That is when somewhat of the following conversation took place using our handy dandy walkie talkies.

Pat: Deb, I’m in front of Build a Bear, where are you? Over.

Deb: I’m also in front of the Build a Bear, but I don’t see you. Over.

Pat: Well, maybe there are two Build a Bear’s…I’m at the one next to Tsunami Surf Shop. Over.

Deb: That’s funny…I’m in front of the one next to Tsunami Surf Shop. Over.

Pat: Well, I’m standing right in front of the entrance. Over.

Deb: I’m standing right in front of the entrance. Over.

It was about then that a perfect stranger tapped me on the shoulder and pointed my friend out to me. SHE WAS STANDING ABOUT 3 YARDS AWAY FROM ME. How embarrassing!

We definitely must have given this man something to laugh about. There he stood smack dab in between the two of us, hearing every word that was coming out of our mouths. So in reality, it was not the walkie talkies that allowed Deb and I to find each other. Rather, it was the help of a perfect stranger who took pity on two crazy ladies, as we frantically tried to reconnect.

When I tell this story, I can’t help but think back to the days before I came to know Jesus Christ personally as my Lord and Savior. There were many times that I found myself anxiously calling out to God. God where are You? Each time there was nothing but silence in return. How I ached to feel God in my life, even if it was, for just one brief moment.

Can you relate to what I am saying? If so, may I encourage you not to give up. My own disconnection problem was discovered while doing some trouble shooting in my life. You see, I was trying to reach God on my own terms. I didn’t know that I needed a perfect stranger to intervene for me. But He did. He gently tapped me on the shoulder and pointed me to God.

Jesus Christ was that perfect stranger. He saw me acting like a crazy lady for too many years, when He took mercy on me. He saw that I was lost and needed to be found. He knew that I was blind and needed new sight.

If you feel disconnected to God, may I urge you to call out to Jesus. He really is not that far away. In fact you don’t need any walkie talkies or even cell phones. His frequency is open to everyone. And once you get connected, I am confident you will hear Him say: Can you hear me NOW?

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.

1 Timothy 2:5 NIV

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Called To Brokenness