The Returned Letter – Life Lessons

The other day I opened my mailbox to find a piece of returned mail. I hadn’t sent anything to anyone, nor was I expecting anything. That is, with the exception of an offer for solar paneling on my house. Excuse me, I meant for my apartment. In a nutshell, it’s letters I don’t want or need.

This writer had to do a full investigation. The who, what, where, and how simply got the best of me. My first clue was realizing I didn’t send the letter.  Rather, someone mailed it to me. Then there was the return address that seemed odd.

With six yellow postal labels sprawled across the front, yes, it required my attention. On the back there was another sun-colored sticker as well. Strangely, my address was amiss just like the return address.

The postal letter had been back and forth to the post office a total of seven times. Each time, a tag was placed on it as to why. One was “Return to Sender Unclaimed Unable to Forward.” Another read Return to Sender Not Deliverable as Addressed Unable to Forward.”

For privacy purposes, I have changed the name of the sender to ABC on Concord. Well, I’m familiar with said company, yet still something about the return information seemed off. To be frank, the entire white and yellow stickered envelope looked like a kid had been playing.

As I continued checking out the mailing, my jaw dropped. Its postmark was stamped March 20, 2024. I received it on September 2, 2026. It had been floating around the United States Post Office for over two years before finally being delivered.

As I tore it open, I prayed it wasn’t an overdue bill or an outdated check. Thankfully, it was just literature for ABC’s upcoming changes. This business had emailed me in February 2024 to advise that they would be mailing their new updates.

The lengthy period goes back to both addresses. When ABC inserted the information into the window envelope, the city and state were not visible.

Then, there’s the case with my address. They failed to include the city and state as part of where I live. With both mishaps, the letter cycled over and over and over until USPS was able to locate my complete mailing address.

This is what is known as the journey of life. Like this letter trying to reach a certain place, there will be roadblocks. Maybe a couple of returns and even a few just sitting still.

No, it’s not ideal and can be very frustrating. However, sometimes it’s needed so we can see if the route is actually where we want to go. It could have been planned ten years ago, but now, as you’ve grown, so has your mind.

What was a dream of yours is no longer. Take these detours and returns to reevaluate what you really want and where you want to go. A moment of redirection doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish something. It means you need more time to grow to be prepared for your adventure.

 Proverbs 16:9 KJV: A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.