“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33)
Each of us is searching for something. At my age it is usually an item I just had in my hand a few minutes ago that is now nowhere to be found that triggers my frantic search. When I was much younger I began to realize that my life was like a jigsaw puzzle that still had some odd shaped missing pieces. I was fortunate to have loving parents and my daily needs met as I began my search for those other pieces that were still missing.
I found my most important missing piece in a Vacation Bible School in 1954 when through the life; death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God filled the huge vacant space in my life only He could fit into. In 1960 I found the love of my life on a blind date and in 1963 she fit into that vacant space designed just for her as my soul mate and wife. My search for the missing piece of career took us from Brentwood, Missouri, to Burlington, Iowa, to Chicago Ridge, Illinois. In 1984, after trying four pieces that just didn’t fit, I found a surprising career in the pest control industry that fit into my life perfectly. We prayed for children to fill those missing pieces in our life but our dogs loosely filled those spaces instead. God gave us a good life, just not the life we expected. I felt my life had come together nicely when in 2014 Carol died and left a large blank space once again. I asked God to help me feel whole again and He led me to CLC and wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. He showed me that each of them fit perfectly into a new section of my life. It was then I realized that space for my wife is still occupied. You see our love did not die when she did.
Why am I sharing all of this with you? To show you that although each of our quests is unique there are some things we have in common. We don’t always get exactly what we want but God always provides us with what we need. I don’t know what you are seeking right now. If you are still searching for some missing pieces in your life I want you to know that God is the one universal, perfect piece we all need. There are no perfect spouses, perfect children, perfect careers, perfect churches or even perfect homes to live in. What you will find are those pieces that fit beautifully into your life, but you must seek God first and then allow Him to help you find those other missing pieces that are just right for you.
I want to leave you with a wise warning: “If you search for good, you will find favor, but if you search for evil, it will find you.” (Proverbs 11:27)