You Are Here!

Here? But, where is here?

The object above is called a street map. People used to use them before “you-know-who” came along. I don’t remember ever talking to my street map: “Hey, Map…” But it got me to my destination…if…if I knew my starting point and the final destination. First problem: where am I on this confusing display of streets? Go ahead and draw a circle around your destination, but that won’t get you there. So, I begin to look for identifying markers, location points around here. For instance, I’m looking out over a river…that helps. Over there is a street sign…another step forward. That’s a tall skyscraper off to the left…making progress. Finally, when the moment comes that you’ve got a reasonably good sense of your present location, you begin to relate that to the destination. Or, as an alternative, you scream: “Hey, map…!!

Overlay this onto your spiritual life and you get this scenario. “How do I determine if I’m on track to the treasure I seek: deep communion with the heart of God? Where am I at this moment?” And you begin looking for markers, like “my familiarity of and commitment to the message of Jesus. What did he teach and am I walking in his footsteps?” Or, “how do I express or practice my relationship with Christ?” Or, “do I really care about the sick, the poor, the suffering. What am I doing to address those conditions?” Or, “Have I developed a prayer or meditation life; that is, do I have a listening-session regularly when I listen for that ‘still, small voice’?”

Sign posts. Guide markers to your goal. “Wanting” won’t get you there, just like holding a paper map in your hand won’t get you to your destination. If your answers to the questions above are: “No,” “I don’t”, “No” and “No”, you need some help. Sit down on that park bench over there and have a little conversation with The Spirit. Maybe something like: “Ok, Jesus I can’t find my way. Help, please.” It’s likely that in your heart you will hear: “Know what I taught and follow it. See how I lived and do the same.” There’s joy in the journey and amazing grace at the destination, and lots of twists and turns along the way. Sure helps to recognize those signposts and to know that you’re heading in the right direction. Press on.