What Happened To Rick Dancer?

The Long And Winding Road (What Happened to Rick Dancer?)

Watch for Detours

I feel stuck.

Ever since the pandemic and probably a little before, I feel like I’ve taken a wrong turn, finding myself at the end of a deserted road, stuck.

This has nothing to do with my stand against ignorance but has everything to do with my own blindness when I turned off the path designed for me by God.

This morning I feel as though my head was cleared with a splash of cold water and inspiration I haven’t experienced in a long time.

I used to hear God.

His impressions were loud and clear.

But since the pandemic his voice is muffled if even audible at all.

My focus took a turn.

Anger, like wax, blocked my eardrums.

A big part of the problem is my reaction to the ridiculousness of the response to the pandemic.

The way society responded hit all my buttons.

I experienced nastiness and meanness from former friends, like never before.

On the outside I stayed strong but I think a tender part of me retreated into my hiding place trying not to be hurt and let down any more.

One of my favorite stories is of a prophet Jeremiah. He is told by God to go to the people and tell them they have been listening and following false prophets. This morning that story comes to my attention so I re-read it and hear the tender voice of my Heavenly Father saying these words:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

There are a lot of false prophets on social media. One recently reached out to me with a message. In the end the guy is a fake and wanted money but in his words I also found a whisper that just might be from God.

I want to discount his comments and most of them I do but God once spoke through a donkey so I have to consider that too. :)

This guy says “ A dark cloud is covering you fighting against your progress. You need to do something to break this yoke.”

Again, if something about this failed to ring true I would pay no attention but in this Donkey’s words I find a tiny nugget of truth and possibly the ability to turn around, walk out of the detour and find my way back to the path designed for me.

https://youtu.be/fR4HjTH_fTM?si=l5H7K39XRDCXfxUU

My favorite Beetles song is “The Long & Winding Road.” I remember as a 15 year old, hearing that song and being touched by its words.

For a kid who didn’t have a lot of confidence, The Long & Winding Road gave me a pathway.

I believe our lives are a journey to find God. In order to sit at His feet we must each take The Long & Winding Road.

We all, I hope, get off track.

I’d hate to be the only one. (Smile)

As I was running along the ponds here in Montana the other morning, the winds were blowing directly in my face at 35 miles per hour.

It was a tough run.

But when I got to the halfway point I stopped, made an about face, and headed back.

That 35 mile per hour wind now propelled me rather than deterred me.

Turning around is the easy part.

Walking back through our detours is where the challenges come.

The false prophets will whisper and jeer as you retrace your steps.

Ignore them.

Listen for God.

And remember, none of it is a waster of time, it’s part of your journey.

The only waste is if you get to this point and we allow paralysis to settling in.