Diana and I have gone on a lot of road trips together. Years ago, we would pack the essential road grub (beef jerky, pork rinds, Mountain Dew, and Munchos), then we would grab our trusty Rand McNally map. It was huge and spiral bound and very exact. Using highlighters, We would map out the route ahead of time. We knew exactly where we were going.
After a few years, the Rand McNally was dog eared and falling apart. It had taken us places.
But now when we travel, We plug in a phone, pull up the map app and enter our destination. Then, We listen to a calming voice coming out of the phone. (My voice is the standard issued ladies voice, Diana has opted for the voice of a British man, both voices are equally helpful.)
The voice tells us where to go.
Step by step.
But, We have to pay attention.
Sometimes, because of twists, turns, and unexpected traffic the voice has to recalculate our route.
There was a time when I used to think that navigating life was like using the big Rand McNally.
I had all the answers and I knew exactly where I was going.
I had a plan.
In the last year I have realized that life is full of unexpected twists and turns.
Things, sometimes really hard things, happen that you never planned.
They change everything.
Then those things change.
You don’t know how to navigate.
Then you hear the voice.
It is a step by step navigational Spirit system.
The plan has been in place, we just don’t get the big personalized map, we get the voice.
Sometimes the route is recalculated.
We have to pay attention to the voice.
It’s called walking by faith.
Instructions are pretty simple for this crazy road trip that we call life…
Love God.
Love EVERYbody.
Listen to the voice.
carbonated joy 