We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

While trying to come up with a topic for this post, I remembered the first road trip my husband Jim and I took from Texas to Indiana. It was the first time either of us had driven that far. We had studied the map and he seemed to know the best route, so I had no qualms about losing our way…then he asked me to drive. Just for a while, he promised, so he could crawl into the back seat and catch a quick nap. I reluctantly took the wheel and whispered a prayer. I had never driven on an interstate highway in my life. “Just stay in the right lane watch the signs. Stay on I-40 and wake me up before we get into Oklahoma City,” he told me.
In no time it seemed, the highway became six lanes and traffic was crazy. We were in the city and Jim was sound asleep. Never easy to wake, he snored on in spite of my efforts to wake him…and there was no place to pull over, so I traveled on. I knew we were supposed to get on I-44 somewhere, so I started watching the interstate signs.
Jim had given me a quick history lesson earlier about I-44 being a part of the historic Route 66. I had followed a sign that said, ” to I-44,” but soon lost sight of it and just kept going. Then I saw a sign that said, ” Route 66,” so I followed it thinking it would take me where we needed to be. Then before long I saw a sign that said in huge letters: WELCOME TO KANSAS!
Kansas?? I knew our route did not go through Kansas…finally, I pulled over and reached for the map. Then Jim woke up. “Where are we?” he asked. “K-Kansas,” I said quickly. I saw on the map that Route 66 went just through the corner of Kansas and tried to show him, but he was getting out of the car and demanding that I move over and let him drive. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” he yelled. “How in the world did you wind up in Kansas?”
“I have no idea,” I told him, realizing the truth…we were lost…and it was my fault for trying to let him rest and do things by myself. Finally, he stopped and asked directions…which he hates to do… and we eventually got to I-44 where we needed to be.
When I remembered this story, I thought of the phrase from The Wizard of Oz, “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.” If you are busy traveling along on this road of life and have realized you’ve lost your way and cannot find your way back. I have the answer for you.
If, like me, you keep on traveling, not knowing where you’ll end up but hoping for the best…or maybe you’ve even lost hope…you might wind up somewhere you would never choose to be. We do have a choice. Asking directions or seeking help is no crime. Some things we can’t do by ourselves. People need to get serious about this gift of life God has given us and stop treating it like something to sit on a shelf when it is meant to be used.
While Dorothy was expecting an all-knowing wizard at the end of that yellow brick road, all she found was a disgruntled old man with no special powers at all. What you’ll find when you seek the kingdom of God, no man can ever match. You’ll find: a refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Psalm 46: 1
For those of us who have answered the call to follow Jesus, we too need to get serious and ask for guidance in leading others to follow Him. May God give us all a greater love and concern for those who are lost.
In Exodus 32: 31-32 Moses prayed for the people he was leading. 31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Paul had a great concern for lost souls and voiced his feelings in Romans 9: 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
Are we willing to give up our place in heaven in order that others might get in? God would never ask us to make this sacrifice, as He gave His own life that all may go in. As he replied to Moses in Exodus 32: 33 …Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Let’s all stop wandering around aimlessly and get down to business. This is serious; a matter of life and death that we are dealing with. May we seek His help and watch as He prepares the way where there seems not to be one. There is hope and finding the way is important, so let’s remind ourselves often and realize: Life is not a fairy tale; it’s for real…and we’re not in Kansas anymore!