LOST AND FOUND

When I leave the hotel this morning, I abandon my map of the town wanting to discover what comes my way…

I start off on a busy road, passing many small shops, art galleries and spas. I meet a family from Sweden who are lost — asking me for directions to a spa. I try to read their map. We chat a bit — then ask a motorcyclist who says we were not far off. It is in the direction I am walking — so we join together chatting about art and South Africa.

I take a side road, passing more shops, art galleries, houses, temples and spas. I am passed by a chatty group of school girls in their neat uniforms. I keep walking on another side road and I’m joined a dog. He looks scary at first but then happily walks with me into another side road. It seems he knows where he’s going to or maybe not.

I follow a sign to a river restaurant crossing a long wooden bridge. At the restaurant, I ask where the town centre is and the young lady points me in the same way back. I walk over the bridge and alongside a green paddy field and turn left instead of right. I pass into a small road leading to a few houses and opening into another green paddy field. In the open, I feel lost again.

I ask an approaching motorcyclist where the town centre is and he points me back from where I came from. He is kind enough to to offer me a ride on his motorbike. At the fork where he drops me, I continue in the direction he tells me — passing more spas, a yoga retreat centre and roadside restaurants. I’m on the road but feel lost again.

I asked an older man where the town centre is and after some directions he offers to take me on his bike for 40,000 rupees. I negotiate down to 30k and we were on our way with his 100cc struggling up the hills. He was not a small man! On the way he stops at an art gallery inviting me to take a look inside. He is the artist. I pass and we continue to town centre where he drops me at the market.

I browse a bit, seeing similar pieces of Balinese art and craft. I buy a set of brightly colored mosaic coasters and continue on my way. I discovered a beautiful white giraffe far from my home in Africa which I buy for a friend.

Back out of the market maze, the first drops of rain anoint my bald head with a thump-thump. I find the nearest roadside restaurant and enjoy a lovely meal and free wi-fi waiting for the rain to pass.

As I sit here … I think about being lost and found. It’s when I feel I have everything together, in place, when my world is working to the clock, that I feel I’m OK. It’s an illusion of success, being on top of things…

I think about Christ who was emphatic that He came to seek the lost — not the pious religious leaders who believed they found the way. When we are lost on the way, God is with us. We are never alone.

Better lost on the way than staying in my hotel room, safe and secure, watching TV and having room service. May you discover that being lost is a good place. It means you alive, walking, searching, struggling.

To find yourself — go get lost !

Musing in cafe in Ubud while the rain soaks the street…

Stanley 29/02/2016