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DEDICATION

by Dale Simmons

"Where would I be without Jesus?"
"Where would I spend eternity?"
"Lost in a world full of sorrows."
"Without Jesus, where would I be?"

This song has been in my head for weeks. Contemplating these words, I had to admit that I really could not answer that question. How far can a man distance himself from God? I don't know. I can only speculate. I thank God He intervened in my life before I found the answer to the above query. He set my feet on another path.

People. God's purpose on earth is wrought through people. I have crossed paths with many people who made a profound impact on my life. Some were positive influences and some were quite the opposite. I have dedicated this website to one of those positive persons with whom I became acquainted – my Grandmother.

The simple life. Edith McIntire thrived in simplicity. To her, the high life was a sliced-garden-fresh tomato, new potatoes slow-cooked in a pot of green beans, and a piece of hot cornbread. Living life was simple, also. If you loved, you would be loved in return... Patience always wins the race... Don't gossip and your words will never come back to you... You learn more by observing and listening than through lots of chatter... Kind words will heal... Boxes of family photos were treasure-chests of memories... Straightforward advice is the best advice, and to captivate a checker-playing grandson, you had to slip and let him win.

My grandmother loved God with all her heart and remained faithful to her knowledge of Him from an early age till she passed from this world. Her faith remained rooted and intact through all of life’s ups and downs, and she surely had her share of those. Eight years ago, confused and wandering aimlessly through life, I found myself connecting to her for a refuge. Here I was -- a grown man with a wife and five children -- floundering in the dark hole of long-term alcohol and drug addiction. Life was a mess. I didn’t trust myself, and no one else did either. For three weeks I slept in my van at the foot of the hill below her mobile home. My mornings consisted of mind-bending hangovers, being somewhat incoherent until noon, and then come evening, sliding back into my hiding place in the dark zone.

One particularly painful morning I found myself sitting on Edith’s couch across from her easychair, feeling guilty and remorseful for my conduct while visiting her. It took three cups of coffee before I broke the silence and apologized. She didn't say a word, and just looked at me. I needed to get it all out, so I began to talk. I ran out of excuses long ago and no more could find anyone to blame. For an hour I expressed myself and let it all out. Desperate to make some sense of it all, I mentioned that I couldn't figure out, for the life of me, what I was running from. She finally spoke, "You’re not running from anything." she said in her quiet way. "You’re looking for something. You’re searching for God."

Much water has passed under the bridge since then. God began a marvelous work in my life, which I would like to share with you further on. For now, I would like to bring just a bit of the Word to light and leave you with a thought. It is the challenge of God to the inquisitive ones.

Related Scriptures:

Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

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