Pacing in the Sand

Are you familiar with the poem, "Footprints in the Sand".  As a child, I would often see a framed copy of it at my grandma's house, in the fellowship hall at church, and in the assorted waiting rooms of doctor's offices, funeral homes or hospitals.  Back then, we didn't have smartphones, so you read, maybe even memorized, the wall art while admiring the accompanying photo of a smooth expanse of beach with a lone set of footprints trailing off into a golden sunset.  Essentially, in the poem, God tells the author that He walks alongside us throughout life.  In case you haven't read it, (spoiler alert), at the end, the author asks God why there are only one set of footprints during the times when life was hard and God reveals "it was then that I carried you."

The poem is often credited as "author unknown".  In writing this post, I learned that there are conflicting stories about the original author.  Mary Stevenson, Margaret Fishback Powers and Carolyn Joyce Carty all have registered copyrights.  Willard Thomas is also credited, yet never held a copyright.  I imagine that each writer may have gone through a challenging period in life that led them to rely on those words, if not originate them on paper.  The hope of a loving God, carrying you through life's tribulations, is something we might all dwell on at times. 

Occasionally, I'll have an idea for a blog post and before I can even put pen to paper, my smartphone is pointing me to articles on the topic.  Are the social media algorithms that intuitive?  Am I getting a nudge from the Holy Spirit to start writing?  Instead, I find myself more often believing discouraging thoughts. "Someone already wrote about this.  You don't have anything worthy to add. Scroll on." 

If that is not the voice of the enemy, hitting me right where it hurts, my own self-esteem and voice, then I don't know what is.  The devil uses exactly that message to stop us in our tracks from putting out a message that might in any way give thanks and glory to God.  Satan is a clever deceiver and it's all too easy to fall for those discouraging lies, time and again.  Instead of focusing on God and the purpose he has for our lives, we throw ourselves into busy-work, binge-watching or, worst of all, doom-scrolling social media to avoid

A)      spending some time talking and listening to God

and

B)      finding creative ways to encourage others to do the same. 

Each time a writer republished the Footprints poem, a new audience of waiting room readers felt the comfort of God's arms lifting them up from the stress of their day.  Amen!  Perhaps there need to be more authors writing or re-writing the message. 

This week, a cousin shared a stunning photo of an oceanfront sunrise in the most beautiful corner of southwestern Ireland (see above).  The heavenly clouds and golden sand reminded me of the framed posters I had seen so many times….but instead of a calm row of singular footprints in the sand, there was a disheveled cluster of footprints going in all directions.  Essentially…us when we are busily trying to solve our own problems and running away from the comforting arms of the loving God who wants to carry us.

Please allow me to rewrite/reimagine the famous poem in my words.

Footprints in the Sand -Author Unknown (maybe)

Pacing in the Sand -Veronica O'Sullivan

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, Especially at the very lowest and saddest times, There was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, There was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I need You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever, during your trials and testings, When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

One night I couldn't sleep. The stressors of the day were weighing heavy on my heart. Responsibilities and tasks were flashing through my mind. Was I making enough money to pay the bills? Did I prepare my child well enough to leave the nest? Had my tense words offended a friend? Would illness take my loved ones? Why did I feel so alone? I cried as I paced in circles, heavily dismayed. Looking down, a series of maddening footprints appeared. I told myself, "You cannot do it. You have too much to carry." In that moment, I looked up to see The Lord's arms outstretched to lift me and my heavy burdens. He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Stop being so stubborn and trying to do it all on your own. Let me lift you. Let me comfort you. Let me carry you."

Most people have seen plenty of photos of the sun rising or setting over the ocean.  Does that mean we should stop taking new pictures of nature's beauty?  Maybe there is someone in a dark place who could benefit from seeing a glimpse of light.  Perhaps your photo will be the one they see that lifts their spirit. 

Perhaps this poem, being told and retold, is also what is needed. 

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”

2 Timothy 4:2