Mystery Date

“Open the door for your mystery date.” Mystery Date was a popular board game when I was growing up. The object of the game is to acquire a desirable date, while avoiding the “dud.” This was my goal in life to find my dream date and avoid the dud.

“Then you can tell the next generation, detail by detail the story of God, our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.”

—Psalm 48:14 (MSG)

Trip Down Memory Lane

In the game, Mystery Date, you discovered which date you got by spinning the door handle and opening the large white door in the center of the game board. If your three outfit cards matched your dates outfit, you won. The five mystery dates in the game were the “formal dance” date, the “picnic” date, the “beach” date, the “skiing” date, and the “dud.” The dud wore “uncool” clothes, his hair was tousled, and his face sported a beard shadow (which would be cool by today’s standards). The dud was not very attractive at all.

Wow, that trip down memory lane was fun, but what does it have to do with you? The answer: “Never abandon your dreams.” Think about this statement for a moment. If you are young, “What are your dreams?” What are the desires that God has placed in your heart. Are you dreaming of sports car? Is there a prestigious career that will meet your needs and beyond? Maybe, your dreams are to find the perfect mystery date. If God has put it in your heart, go for it.

Little Deuce Coupe

If you are old, try to remember the dreams God first put into your heart. I remember dreaming of a “little deuce coupe,” which was a hot rod from the Beach Boys song of that name. Then, God provided me a 1968 Corvette, in boxes. I bought it for $500 from one of my college professors. It had been a project that he had started to restored, but, after he had it completely disassembled, he lost interest.

Not me, I would not lose interest until the work was complete. I sanded and painted it in my dad’s garage. I learned how to work with fiberglass. When I went to Ferris State University, I got a job at a Chevy dealership. One of the perks of the job included 50% off on parts. So, I was able to purchase missing parts for my dream car at a deep discount. It took me ten years, but I completed the project. It was better than any car at the fanciest car shows. Then, after a couple of years of proudly driving it around, I had a new dream. I sold that Corvette for a down payment on our first house. A nurse, who lived over an hour away from me, bought it, but never took it for a test drive. I drove it to her and placed it in a storage garage. It would be a gift for her husband. I never learned how that turned out.

My Mystery Date

I thought again about my dreams as a young person. The deepest dream of my heart was not a car. It was that mystery date. I dreamed of the perfect date and God provided one who has been a source of encouragement and love for forty-plus years. I am blessed. “Never abandon your dreams.” God will give you the desires of your heart, if you put your trust in him. I know this from experience.

It seems backward, by giving God control of your life, you will actually get your life under control. You will see your dreams fulfilled, detail-by-detail. You may even find your mystery date and avoid the dud.

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Don’t Hesitate.