It is a classic conflict between man and wife, the need for directions. Despite rising gasoline prices and the declining value of the dollar, Americans are icing down coolers, loading trunks and hitting the open road in pursuit of summertime adventure. Having been down this road before, some men will take advice from their wives and seek a pointed finger from a local resident. The less than wise will rely on their intuition and instinct to navigate unfamiliar territory. We know how the story ends.
A few years ago, a friend of mine was on his way back to Washington D.C. from Oklahoma. Somewhere in the middle of the night, he zigged when he should have zagged, and by the morning light, he discovered he was lost in Ohio.
Posing as a geographically challenged traveler, one of my favorite practical jokes is to stop at a convenience store at the Texas/Oklahoma boarder near Wichita Falls and ask the attendant how far it is to Wichita. The response is always the same, “Wichita Falls, Texas is just a few miles away but you are no where near Wichita, Kansas.” To which I reply, “That’s not what the sign said in Oklahoma City. It said turn south for Wichita.” By this time, I have usually gained the attention of other customers. A sense of pity abounds when I express that I am sure to miss the wedding!
I am convinced the modern global satellite position (GPS) unit has done more to save marriages than a year of premarital counseling. The best wedding gift any man could receive is a GPS. It may take a while to get used to taking travel tips from the female voice giving directions. But it sure beats hearing his wife say, “I told you so!”
There have been times when a lost comrade has approached me at a gasoline station. We men have to stick together, you know. When I am feeling ornery I reply, “You can’t get there from here.” The already bewildered traveler typically takes an extended stare, contemplates my response and then cracks a smile. I return the gesture, point him in the right direction and recommend a GPS before he needs marriage counseling.
I recently discovered an interesting feature on my GPS. I have the option of setting the device to either the shortest or the fastest route. Given my personality, I opted for the fastest route. Given the price of fuel, choosing the shortest route could have been the way to go. The real question isn’t about speed or distance, but what is best.
The same principle applies to my Christian walk. So many times I focus on the fastest and shortest, when God is more concerned with what is best. We tend to focus on our way, not Yahweh.
“Thy will be done,” is a classic line from the Lord’s Prayer. I can’t help but think how much farther I would be down life’s road if I had only learned to pause and seek God’s Positioning System sooner. Consulting His GPS always provides the best direction in life.
