Where's Waldo? is a British series of children's books created by the English illustrator Martin Handford. The books consist of a series of detailed double-page spread illustrations depicting dozens or more people doing a variety of amusing things at a given location. Readers are challenged to find a character named Waldo hidden in the group.
Waldo's distinctive red-and-white-striped shirt, bobble hat, and glasses make him slightly easier to recognize, but many illustrations contain red herrings involving deceptive use of red-and-white striped objects. Later entries in the long-running book series added other targets for readers to find in each illustration.
Sounds a little like the world around us and the world within us, doesn't it? With red herrings flying everywhere, time moving quickly and our internal world assaulted with busyness and chaos, it is sometimes hard to find our real selves. And after awhile, in the midst of all this, we don't even remember what the "real me" looks, sounds or feels like.
During the month of September, we will be exploring Restoration - the process of returning to our original design and form. It might be time to ask the question, "Where's Lillie? Where's Katie? Where's Bruce?" You get the idea! Our purpose on the planet is not to be so obscured by red herrings and distractions that our presence is no longer discernable. Our purpose is to live into a future with hope because God is the original artist and is always ready to restore us to our original greatness.
What needs restoring in you? How will you be part of restoring our community and world? Come so we can wrestle together!