Lost Books

I'd like to share an experience from a couple of days ago that occurred while I was traveling from Tampa to Memphis.  I had a layover in Charlotte and during that time I stopped in one of the stores and found a couple of self development books that were meant just for me.  I read a few pages from each book during the flight between Charlotte and Memphis and my mind was like a sponge soaking up the wisdom on each page.  After landing and picking up my luggage from baggage claim, I made my way to the shuttle bus to take me to my car located off site from the airport.  After a couple of flight delays, cramped seating and having to lug my bags around for six hours, I could feel the finish line of a good night's sleep around the corner. 

Just as the shuttle bus was pulling up to the lot I took inventory of my possessions and realized that the two books I had just bought were missing.  I remembered seeing them in the baggage claim but they were definitely no longer in my possession.  I asked the driver to please take me back around to the airport to search for my lost books.  Together the books cost me around 35 bucks and I'm sure I could have found the books at another book store or online.  However to lose the books at a time when I was ready to be in my comfy bed was like being told I had taken a wrong turn in a marathon.  Also, I look at books, the right books, as more valuable than any monetary value because they contain knowledge.  With knowledge you can acquire a new skill set that can never be taken away.  So it felt like a big deal in the moment.

The ride back to the airport would only take about 5 minutes, but as you can imagine it felt like much longer.  Naturally, during this time my mind started to run through all of the scenarios: 

• Maybe the books had been run over by the shuttle and damaged. 
• Maybe they had fallen off in a place where I would not find them. 
• Maybe they fell and someone picked them up looking for the owner, but without any contact information they would have to keep the books. 

 

Anyone that knows me well knows that it is not uncommon for me to let’s say "misplace" a set of keys, or wallet or anything not tied to me.  I've gotten slightly better over the years.  But where I feel that I have improved is in controlling my internal dialogue and having faith.  On the short bus ride back to the terminal I remember telling myself that either way the Lord had it covered.  If indeed I had lost the books, I told myself that it must have been meant for me to drop them for someone else to find, read and internalize the knowledge.  As it turned out, I found the books lying on the curb between the baggage claim and where I stepped onto the bus.  I scooped up the books no worse for the ware and continued home feeling blessed and highly favored to have recovered them. 

The true gem in all of this is that I was able to share this story with a friend of mine a couple of days later who was going through a life moment and it provided inspiration.  I explained to this person, the test was in the moments between lost and found.  We all experience these moments from time to time but as Proverbs 3:5 states:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

It was only after sharing this story that I truly understood why I had lost my books. 

There are many ways to give.  Today I challenge you to give someone a compliment, peace of mind or encouragement.  Just Give!

Have a blessed day!