Getting Direction

I am lucky to have a car.  Some ex-pat wives do not have a car.  I am also lucky I live in the age of navigation systems.  I do drive almost everyday, but it is mostly to familiar places.  The first few weeks I was living here, I got lost, a lot.  One time my navigation brought me to a two track field and my car stalled in a foot of water with no where to turn around.  I now have a heightened level of anxiety when driving to unknown places.

I have gained much more confidence since then.  But, Saturday, my navigation brought me onto a highway and then re-routed me a mile further because the whole highway was shut down.  It took me an hour, after getting somewhat lost, to get to the destination that should have taken 10 minutes.  The navigation was not very helpful in getting me through all the confusing german construction areas and detours!  Sunday, was better.  We found our way to Jack's basketball tournament with good roads and a smooth navigation.  Better yet, I was able to follow a friend most of the way home.

While following my friend, I remembered something I heard in a Bible Study a few years ago.  My leader said that navigation systems are much like the Holy Spirit.  If we try to get to a destination without it, we can get lost or never find our destination.  Hold on I thought.  That CANNOT apply to navigation systems and german roads.  The navigation system might seem more like a good friend or doctor trying to help, but can't in every circumstance.  My new analogy for the Holy Spirit and driving is that the Holy Spirit is more like the van I followed all the way home.  If I took my eyes off the van in front of me, I could get lost or cars could cut in front of me!  (And, that can surely happen here in Germany.  People don't just cut in front of you in the store, they cut in front of you with cars too, even at the car wash!)  It was so much easier keeping my eyes on the path in front of me when all I had to do is follow the huge VW van to lead me home.  Isn't that true?  We just have to follow the Holy Spirit's leading and keep our eyes fixed on the straight and narrow path.    If we lose a little focus, we can lose our direction.  If we go our own way, who knows where will end up?

Do you agree?  Let me know your thoughts...

Proverbs 3:5-6