Lost and Found in Bar Harbor, Maine

one of many bays and harbors in Acadia National Park

Good Morning, God!

The sunlight is bright on the water outside our room fronting Bar Harbor. My wonderful husband Kit has gone for a walk to take photos along the history-rich pathway that starts at the hotel. I have had another 10 hour night’s sleep. And I am happy!

Relaxed . . . Peaceful . . . Content.

But so often these feelings come only after a struggle. My struggle came the night we arrived here. After the car had been completely unloaded, my favorite sweater was missing. I had worn this sweater every day — and some nights — on our trip. I had bought it for $5 at a church rummage sale near Dartmouth College two years ago. It was a black cashmere zip-up cardigan — and I loved it.

My mind churned most of the night as I thought back to where I could have left it. Churning is a kind word for what my mind was doing. I was miserable! Self recrimination, regret, grief and anger are only a few of the emotions that were storming around inside me.

Finally, I attempted, God, to offer up the sacrifice of praise to You — praising You for the loss of the sweater. That was so hard! But after several efforts to offer up praise — in between dozing — it came to me that the Sweater had been “recycled” into my hands . . . and perhaps I could allow it to be “recycled” into other hands. By the end of that long, long night I had (mostly) opened my hands to pass on the sweater. And, I had also realized that the sweater represented all sorts of Other Losses in my Life — Past, Present and Pending.

So, here I am, God, right now in a peaceful inner harbor — trusting You — after that night of not trusting. Please help me to remember to Trust You sooner in the next storm!

And, as a lovely postscript – after calling L.L Bean the next morning to check their lost and found — I found my sweater on the floor of the back seat of our car.