One morning recently the view from my front porch was lost in the fog, so I decided to blog about fog. Didn’t Washington cross the Delaware under cover of fog and gain a surprise victory? Didn’t fog protect Allied troops from the bombs of the Luftwaffe during ‘The Miracle of Dunkirk‘ in World War II?
Initially, I thought I would present fog as ‘the hand of God’ protecting us. I liked this idea because sometimes I feel as if I’m walking in a spiritual fog, unable to see clearly. Ah, but with this blog I was going to explain that I did not need to be concerned, God was protecting me with the fog.
Wanting to verify the facts I did some research. I discovered that the element of surprise in Washington’s most famous crossing of the Delaware was not due to fog. They crossed nine miles from the enemy and it was their timing and quick marching that got them there. It may have been foggy, but I could not verify that fog had actually rescued or protected them.
Oh well, on to Dunkirk. I had read stories mentioning ‘an unusual fog that had never happened before or since’ that protected the Allied withdrawal from the bombs of the Luftwaffe. A quick survey of the facts showed that the Dunkirk evacuation took nine days and saved approximately 340,000 troops. Two French divisions were not rescued, and many lives were taken and ships were sunk by Luftwaffe bombs. There were low hanging clouds and smoke that covered the harbor on the second or third day, but no evidence that ‘The Miracle of Dunkirk’ was due to fog. Again, it does not seem that fog saved the troops.
I was disappointed because I have heard inspirational speakers use these two events. I wanted them to be true.
Then I heard a true story of two men who were separated from their truck by a fast rising mountain fog in Colorado. They were not able to establish landmarks to help them find their truck, so they followed a creek down the mountain. They hiked all day and arrived at safety just before nightfall. The fog did not save them. It made them soggy and lost.
My conclusion is this: whether the fog is spiritual or physical we need familiar landmarks, maps, and compasses to help us travel in the right direction. Being lost is not good; being on course and moving forward is good. I will not blissfully assume that fog in my life is from God. When the fog comes, I will seek Him as my Landmark; I want His purposes to be accomplished in my life.
I draw near to God because I do not want to be lost in the fog.