This past
weekend we took a trip and used, for the first time, a GPS. I am a good great map navigator, have an excellent
sense of direction, and tend to be a little anti-modern technology. However, let me just say: I LOVE THE GPS!
We knew our
destination, a nature park outside a small community called
Klosterneuberg. However, on the way back
we powered up “Daniel” (the name of the voice that is telling us where to go)
and entered in all of the details he asked for … home address, language
preference, keyboard language etc. (On a
side note … "Daniel" is being replaced by an unknown female German speaker. "Daniel", being from the UK doesn’t know how to
pronounce German street names and thus is a lousy navigator! So, we are using our unknown female German
speaker from now on! Despite the fact
that she will have to be given a proper Austrian name, we love her accent and
are already finding her a pleasure to listen to and to learn new vocabulary
words from!)
After
spending a few hours at our nature park, we decided to see what “Daniel" had to
offer. One of the features, Points of Interest, allows you to choose from a host of … points of interest. I selected Park/Gardens, picked a location,
pressed “Go“ and we followed "Daniel” up a hill, through rather rough terrain, and down lonesome paths until we reached the black
and white racing flag on the screen that told us we had arrived at our destination.
I made an
observation. As we were following the
path “Daniel” laid before us, we did so blindly.
Now, here is a peak into what is typically
our reality. I print out Google map
directions. I get a feel of the map,
location, surrounding areas and try to get a handle on where we are going. Chris drives according to the directions I am
reading, giving, translating from the Google map. He usually questions, doubts, wonders, and
disbelieves my instructions, causing me to question, doubt, wonder and
disbelieve myself and Google.
None of
that was a part of our experience yesterday with “Daniel”. Chris put his confidence in “Daniel”. I put my confidence in Chris … following
“Daniel”. All was well with the world,
despite the twists and turns up the mountain.
We knew “Daniel” had a plan and knew where the path was taking us.
Always
seeing life through the lens of a writer, I commented to Chris about this
situation and the ironic parallels to spiritual things. Why can’t most of my life be lived as
carefree as we were in that moment following “Daniel”? What if we trusted God and put absolute
confidence in His plan like we were doing with “Daniel”?
Instead, I
find myself questioning, doubting, wondering and disbelieving not only myself,
but God, other people … everything! I
want to know the plan. I want to know
where I am going. I want to know when
I’m going to reach my destination. I
want to hear the voice that leads me. I
want to see the path before me, knowing when the road bends what comes
afterward! Agh! All the while, I lose sight of what I’ve
probably read 1,000 times … He will never leave me or forsake me … He guards
what is mine … He uses all things for my good … He knows every hair on my head
… He cares for me … He hears me. All the
things that seem so hard to believe while traveling the journey of life.
I make no
promises. However, I’m keeping this
little visual of my GPS in my head. I’m
gonna remind myself to put my confidence in the One who knows the way … and try
to relax … and know He is able! Come on, "Daniel" ... lead me on!
