He looked like he was about seven years old. He was a very nice looking little boy. When I first saw him he was walking beside the wall in the hall of his elementary school with his white stick tapping the way. I was amazed at his confidence and steadiness. From all appearances he knew where he was going and needed no assistance. I am sure this did not happen overnight. Someone spent many hours orienting him to his school and making sure he could navigate by himself. It was very impressive.
No matter what our special needs happen to be each of us needs help navigating. The GPS in my car has paid for itself many times over in saved gasoline. It is so nice to go directly to my destination without looking like a directionally challenged person. As a teacher I am continually frustrated by students that fail to follow instructions. You can put something in the course syllabus, point it out, have them underline it and still they fail to do it. God must feel that way with us. Remember Isaiah 30:21? “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.'” God wrote it down for us and He whispers directions to us and we still get lost. Ouch!
I do admire people who set a path and keep to it. I, like my mind, wander all over the place. It’s getting worse. Staying on course is not easy because there are so many interesting things to see and to think about. I rarely hear an entire sermon because the preacher says something that makes me think of something which makes me think of something which makes me think of something. Right now I am thinking I am so glad Jesus said, “I am the way.” Don’t get lost!
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 10, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574