Tuesday, April 5
Recalculating the Path
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. —Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV)
A road trip many years ago to visit our son outside of Hot Springs was interrupted a few miles from our destination by a detour. Our new GARMIN GPS quickly “recalculated” our route, directing us onto a narrow, muddy, back road, indicating that we would reach our destination in 12 minutes. After some 25 minutes of multiple turns, recalculations, and literally “wandering in the wilderness,” we realized that the trusted technology had given us inaccurate information; furthermore, it was getting late, there were no road signs for reference, no houses at which to stop for direction, no street lights to help us stay on the dirt road, and no cell service to call for assistance. It was beginning to be a time of concern and apprehension.
We agreed that what we needed to do was to put away the distraction of the GPS and to rely on our own sense of direction and knowledge. By observing the position of the setting sun we realized that we had been going away from the general direction of our son’s house. This led us to “recalculate” our own path. We turned around and after some time, we eventually found our way back to a main road that took us on to our waiting family.
Let us be reminded once again at this Lenten season that traveling the road to Christianity is not always easy. There are detours along the way, challenges to face and hard decisions to be made. Sometimes we unknowingly take the wrong path, other times we take a wrong turn by our own choice or from the advice of others. We need to stop often and recalculate our position in order to stay on the right path so that in the end, we are reunited with our heavenly family.
Dear Lord, give me the foresight to know when I am lost and the courage to recalculate my path as I travel the sometimes difficult road to Christian discipleship. Keep me on the path of righteousness during my journey. AMEN.
Claudia Fowler