Lost, a terrible word.  Rhoda, my lovely wife, was separated from her parents years ago at the Madri Gras parade in New Orleans.  Years later, that memory is still poignant.  If you have ever been lost, you will never forget it.

Bob Berman, in his column in the October issue of “Astronomy”, relates “A dozen cool facts.”  One of them is that a neutron can live for more than 10 billion years as long as it stays in its place snuggled deep within its atom’s nucleus.  But if it escapes, it will vanish in 10 ½ minutes, not even a blink compared to 10 billion years.  Bob said one lesson that might be learned from this “cool fact” is that kids should stay home with their parents so they will never be lost.  That’s pretty good advice, but I think there is more solid advice gained from this example.  As God’s children we are safest when we stay close to Him no matter what happens in life.  “Busting loose” from that safety net is not a wise thing to do.  We will surely be lost.

In 1898 Lelia Morris wrote a beautiful hymn, “Nearer Still Nearer.”  Her hymn speaks to staying close to God:

Nearer still nearer close to Thy heart

Draw me my Saviour, so precious Thou art;

Fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast,

Shelter me safe in that haven of rest,…

Nearer still nearer, while life shall last,

Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;

Thru endless ages, ever to be

Nearer, my Saviour, still nearer to Thee…

Why would we want to be anywhere else?

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.  James 4:7-8 (NIV)

Photo by Chicago’s North Shore Conventions & Visitors Bureau.