Saturday, March 9, 2013

I love my GPS!

I love my GPS. I use it all the time. Most of the time I don't really need it for directions. I am not generally directionally-challenged. I love that it tells me my speed. It even tells me the posted speed limit on most major roads. I've been amazed at how accurately it changes when I drive into a new speed zone.

My car is less helpful. The speedometer is off by a few miles per hour (that's kilometers per hour for those of you reading in the rest of the world).

When I start out on a journey, I like to program in the destination because it tells me how far I have to go before I arrive. When I am driving into new territory, it takes a bit of the stress, of which road or exit to take, away. And when I decide to drive a different direction it says, "Recalculating...When possible make a legal u-turn." Sometimes I think it should say, "Hey stupid, just turn me off if you aren't going to pay attention to me."

With the miracle of modern technology it also shows me where I can get gas...for my car or my stomach...even shows me where there are ATMs so I can fill up my wallet.

It's really quite helpful. Sometimes it even helps certain back-seat-drivers from pitching in their two cents.

My father-in-law argues with his GPS frequently.

Psalm 43:3-4 says, "Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of Your presence, to enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, sing my thanks with a harp, Magnificent God, my God."

In this journey we call life, God has gifted most of us in such a way that we can do normal life without much dependence on Him (not that we should, just that we can). So we do. And we spend our life reading the billboards that our culture puts up alongside the road. You know the ones: things satisfy, busyness equals fulfillment, more is better, you can have it all. Sometimes the billboards are subtle and other times they are in your face. But they lead us away from the narrow path that God calls us to walk. And it's a struggle to get back. We get so far from the intimacy God would have us experience with him that we begin to wonder if he is even real?

He's given us a lantern, compass and map. A GPS, so to speak. Do you even know how to read it? When was the last time you did?

The only thing that satisfies is the presence of God. Everything else is hollow in comparison. When was the last time you made it to the Sacred Mountain? The Secret Place where you soul connects most deeply with the God who created you for fellowship with HIM?

Maybe you should "recalculate" and "make a legal u-turn"...now. If you are off-track it may take a while to get back onto the right path. It's worth the work.