Yesterday, I was driving a familiar route home from Dallas. Having done this many times, I was relaxed and confident that I would have no problem finding my way. Not paying much attention, I visited with the passengers in my car. The weekend had been filled with navigational skills required to find new places, and after concentrating at various points throughout the weekend I was now relaxed on my way home, so much so, that I never even saw the sign for the exit I was supposed to take! How interesting, it was with the familiar that I had completely missed it and found myself where I hadn't intended to be.
Obviously, this is a great metaphor! When we are in crisis, or in a place where important decisions are being made, our ears and eyes strain for any sign that tells us which path to take. We pray and hope to do the right thing, alert and aware of anything that will point the way and make it clear. It is the every day, however, the comfortable, normal existence that can dull the senses and blind us to the obvious. We wake up suddenly, wondering how we got here - dead and dry, no longer longing, needing to find the place where we went straight ahead, instead of veering where the route required.
The only thing for me to do was turn around and go back to where I had gone wrong. I tried to find the short cut over to the road I had wanted, but by the time I had it figured out I was where I needed to be. Grateful to be back on the correct path, I had to once again move forward, forgive myself for the time lost, and get to where I was going, humbled to be a bit late.
When traveling long distances, one degree to the left or right won't make much of a difference at first, but in the long haul, that one degree will have you ending up thousands of miles from where you had intended to go.
"Lord, help us to stay awake and aware, listening for Your voice that says, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.' We need You to help us discern the value system of Your kingdom, not getting comfortable, complacent and miles from where You desired us to be!"
We are sojourners on this earth!
"Thou wilt make known to me the path of Life."
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