For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Updated: May 5, 2025 | 7 min read
Originally Posted: November 4, 2023
Ally Veldhuisen
Not figuratively… literally. When did you last take a wrong turn and have no idea how to get to where you needed to go?
I’ll be the first to confess, I get physically lost easily. However, I usually have my phone and can use a mapping app to get me to the right place, so even though I’m directionless by my own power, I’m never truly lost. You know?
Last week, though, this was not the case.
I was traveling to visit my sister (and fellow blogger), Lauren, up in British Columbia. The drive is pretty straight forward—head North for a while, then take two turns—but I pulled up a map just in case before slipping my phone into airplane mode and driving across the border.
Welp. I bet you can figure out what happened.
I went North for a while, then took two turns… in the wrong direction.
Quickly finding myself three miles down an old logging road in the middle of the woods, I realized that I was completely off-course with a sleeping baby in the back seat and no option to map myself out of there this time.
Bears kept running through my mind (because naturally when you’re lost you jump to the worst case scenario and imagine what you might do if your Chevy Traverse were suddenly mauled by a bear) and I stopped in the middle of the road to calm my thoughts.
I was surrounded by a dense forest of towering pines—sunlight filtering through the branches. The silence was only broken by birds chirping the crunch of gravel under my tires. I tried to calm my racing heart as I focused on the eerie beauty of my surroundings.
When my mind cleared, I chose to head back down the bumpy, washed up gravel road toward the highway. I moseyed back to a gas station I had passed, headed inside, and asked the attendant for help.
To my surprise, the girl at the counter was extremely friendly and helpful. She got me the store landline so that I could call my sister, she mapped my route on her personal phone, and sent me off on my way with a smile and a heartfelt, “Good luck!”
I found my way to Lauren’s house and breathed a sigh of relief. It felt so good to arrive, and upon reflection I noticed that getting lost was actually a refreshing experience.
My drive down the old logging road was beautiful! I felt more confident in myself after finding Lauren’s house without following my phone. I connected with some really nice strangers that I never would have spoken with had things gone exactly according to plan.
I think getting lost, I mean really lost, was good for my soul—even if it was quite stressful in the moment.
In our hyper-connected and fast-paced world, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the web of routines, responsibilities, and digital distractions. We often find ourselves moving from one predefined point to another, guided by GPS, schedules, and the ever-present lure of our smartphones. But would you believe me if I told you that getting lost might be one of the best things you could do for your well-being?
Getting lost isn’t just about losing your way on a physical journey (don’t head 3 miles down an old logging road when your gut tells you it’s the wrong way!); it’s a metaphor for temporarily detaching from the daily grind and embracing the unknown.
Here are five powerful reasons why getting lost could be exactly what you need:
When you wander into unfamiliar territory, you open the door to wonder and curiosity. The world suddenly becomes a place of endless possibilities, filled with hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Getting lost allows you to see the world through fresh eyes and appreciate the beauty and intrigue that’s often overlooked. Stepping outside your comfort zone can be a fertile ground for creativity. In the midst of new experiences and unexpected encounters you may stumble upon innovative solutions and creative breakthroughs.
Getting lost can be a wonderful reminder that life isn’t always about sticking to the script. The freedom to explore without a plan can be liberating, allowing you to go wherever your instincts lead.
Think about your most memorable adventures—chances are, many of them involve unexpected detours to spontaneous decisions that led to delightful surprises.
Learning to navigate uncertainty when you’re lost helps build resilience. Life often throws unexpected obstacles our way, and the experiences of getting lost teach you to adapt, problem-solve, and trust your instincts.
Each time I’ve had to find my way without technology, I’ve gained more confidence in my ability to handle whatever comes my way—a skill that translates to all areas of life.
When you’re lost, your mind naturally focuses on the present moment. You’re not worried about yesterday’s meeting or tomorrow’s deadline; you’re fully immersed in the here and now. Being lost forces us to surrender control and practice trust in God’s plan.
Notice how alert and aware you become when trying to navigate unfamiliar territory? Your senses heighten, you notice details, and you experience a unique form of mindfulness that our scheduled lives rarely allow.
Sometimes, it takes getting lost to truly appreciate what you have. When you return home after an adventure, you see your familiar surroundings with a newfound gratitude.
And like my unexpected encounter with the helpful gas station attendant, getting lost often leads to genuine human connections that remind us of the kindness that exists in the world.
Getting lost every once in a while can be a deliberate act of self-care in a world that constantly demands our attention and adherence to schedules. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to let go of control, to embrace the unknown, and to be guided by your curiosity.
So how might you purposefully “get lost” in your everyday life?
Remember, getting lost doesn’t have to be as dramatic as my logging road adventure. Even small departures from your routine can bring the refreshing benefits of discovery and presence. Just remember, when you find yourself accidentally lost—sometimes God lets us get a little lost so we can discover paths we never would have chosen but desperately needed to find.
In the best of ways… GET LOST!
Ally is the primary founder of For This House. She just finished renovating a cute, old house in small town Washington where she lives with her husband and young son. Ally is a teacher by trade, but also enjoys library cookbooks and watching Downton Abbey. Learn more about Ally.
Ally is the primary founder of For This House. She just finished renovating a cute, old house in small town Washington where she lives with her husband and young son. Ally is a teacher by trade, but also enjoys library cookbooks and watching Downton Abbey. Learn more about Ally.