“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
– Psalm 25:4, 5
A standing joke among many of us who live in the Midwest is that we have two seasons: winter and construction. As we enjoy the freedom from ice and snow, shoveling and scraping, we instead face the dreaded forest of orange cones and barrels, concrete dividers, and the ominous “Road Closed” barriers. We find ourselves driving through neighborhoods we’ve never been to, hoping we can get to work on time, or just hoping we end up someplace that we recognize. We really have no choice but to grit our teeth and get through it, and then, when the new surface is down and the street is smooth and quiet, our attitudes improve and we decide the end result was worth all the noise and inconvenience.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus was asked over and over by his followers and listeners how to be sure one was on the right road. They would ask how to inherit eternal life, how they would know the way, who they should follow, and what they should say and do. They were anxious for a map, or at least specific directions spelling out the details. The gospel Jesus was preaching was so different from the cut and dried laws of the priests and the Pharisees of their time, and as he taught of a new and different relationship with God, people were asking a lot of questions. Many of the parables and teachings of Jesus use the imagery of traveling a path, being on the way, or following in the way that is right. To be able to discern the right way, or which path to take, meant people would be making choices for which they were responsible, and Jesus was teaching them what they needed to know when faced with choices and decisions.
Most of us have experienced problems getting where we want to go, and we grumble about the inaccuracy of the GPS system or the confusing directions given by the guy at the gas station. And most of us would like to have confidence that we are following the right road as we travel through life. Well, when it comes to having a guidance system and knowing how to choose the right path, we have both the information and the inspiration in the words of the psalmist and the teachings of Jesus. Following these directions, we will get there from here!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers