"Leading Me Home" by Inspirational Author Staci Stallings

Leading Me Home

Directions have never been my strong suit. I'm better now, but unlike my husband, I can still get turned around and dreadfully lost.

That is the only way I can explain what happened in earthly terms. I was out walking in the snow around the area near a friend's cabin. Now, in my defense, I was smart enough to stick to the road, and I was also smart enough to carefully remember the road signs I turned at as I turned on them.

First it was San Isidore Drive. I figured that was safe, St. Isidore the patron of farmers and me having haled from a farm. I couldn't go wrong there. Then there was Lake Way. Then Sandia Drive. At the next intersection I turned around for the trek back down the mountain.

But on San Isidor I decided to walk just a little longer so I turned the other direction and started up a different road. Halfway up, I met up with a "friend", a black dog that looked to be about six times bigger than me.

True to a small bit of training, I kept walking, not any faster, not looking at him, just to let him know I was cool, and I was leaving. However, not two more cabins up, I heard more dogs barking and decided that was my cue to go back home.

When I got back, my friend was lying in the middle of the road waiting for me. Once again with him sniffing at my heels, I walked by. Only this time he didn't stop, he followed me. We walked and walked until we got back around the corner to San Isidor and then to my turn.

By this time, however, in my mind I was coming from the way I had gone up the first time. With the dog tracking my every stop, somehow I neglected to remember that little detail so instead of turning left, I turned right!

Let me reiterate here, I did not know this country. I didn't know the roads. All I knew was that I was supposed to be on Cimmeron Trail (which I was) and that I now had a companion along for the ride.

As I walked, I kept looking down the road, saying to myself, "I don't remember the cabin being this far. Well, surely it's around the next corner."

It wasn't.

By now I was getting a little scared. Although not cold, it wasn't exactly warm. Then I did what I always do when I'm in a situation I'm not quite sure I can handle, "God, help!"

"He was in front of me, turned around in the road, looking at me and waiting."

Should I turn back around? Or was the cabin just around the next bend? How long had it been since breakfast? What was my game plan if I couldn't find the cabin? And if I couldn't find my way, how was my friend ever going to find his?

Around the next bend, I knew where I was wasn't right. Seeing no other option. I turned around.

The beauty of the landscape somehow didn't look quite as beautiful as it had two hours before. I was getting tired and all I really wanted to do was go home.

"Okay, God, I'm really lost with this one. I think I took a wrong turn and I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be going. Please can you help me? Be with me and help guide me home safely."

It was then that I noticed my friend. He was no longer walking at my heels. He was in front of me, turned around in the road, looking at me and waiting.

Suddenly as if I could hear it outright there was a voice all around me. "I've been with you the whole time, you just didn't realize it."

I knew right then that I'd get home. Then as I followed the dog, I thought, "Huh, a dog. Who would've thought." The voice came again, "Why? Don't you know what DOG spelled backwards is?"

Together, we found my error, and my friend traveled with me all the way up the steps of my cabin. At my front door I thanked him for keeping me company, for the lessons he taught me on my walk, and for leading me home.

I think I should have thanked Him more often.