Mist and low clouds are much more far and few between than rain. When it rains, it RAINS. I mean we get wet. When there’s mist, we all look up and around us thinking, “What is happening here?” Thus, when thinking of Isaiah 44:22, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you,” I am astounded. All my sins? All of them, really?

Let’s take a break for a second before bringing it together.

Here I sit, once again, on my own bed facing all of my project clothes – clean this time – covering my floor. I have now been home for four days. I’ve ran errands, I’ve done painting and crafty projects, I’ve gotten my nails done… And yet I can’t help but think that if I were still in NMB, I would have gone sharing numerous times already this week. Ouch, that cuts deep.

No. Instead I watch the olympics for hours at a time, or go into stores and barely look the cashier in the eye. These are the same strangers I would have tried to start spiritual conversations with in the south. How can I not feel guilty now? I feel gross and sloppy and spiritually lazy. I don’t have my friends to encourage and go along with me out to the beaches. I don’t have a lifetime supply of KGP Booklets. It’s just not the same.

But somehow, the idea of me needing the gospel replays over and over in my head. The thoughts of me following after the Lord daily pluck my heartstrings. Here in Racine, I still need the lessons of the gospel. I stumbled upon this verse in Isaiah on the wonderful Pinterest.com. I passed by it quickly and came back later thinking how beautiful this verse is.

So let’s jump back.

Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Stop those thoughts, the deed has already been done. Although I feel honestly, a little less holy and a lot more lonely, I have still been redeemed. Ah…Ain’t that the truth!

[originally posted 8.10.2012]