Tip of My Iceberg

I am directionally challenged.

My Dad, recognizing my weakness early in life, used to tell me that I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag. When I was twelve, that was offensive.

Now I must admit it’s true.

I don’t do points on the compass. I know what they are. Eat soggy wet noodles. East, south, west, north. Just don’t ask me where they are.

Siri is actually my new best friend. She’s the little directional genius on my iPhone. She treats everyone as if they were functional directional idiots.

I’m OK with that. I can own what I am.

I used to frequently stop at gas stations to ask directions. I’d always carry a pen and paper with me because I’m a visual learner. Which means if someone tries to tell me directions and I can’t write them down, I smile at them sweetly and quickly forget everything they just said. I need to see it to follow it, so writing meticulous directions became a habit.

I’m also prone to find my way by landmarks. (I think that’s an X-chromosome thing.) I’ll find the cherry red house with the rose bushes in front a lot quicker than I’ll find Anderson Street.

But all that was in the day before Siri and I became tight. She’s my wing gal,and I’m fairly confident I’ll get to where I’m going with her by my side.

Except when I don’t listen.

My daughter Debbie and I were returning home from a doctor’s appointment. It was a new doctor, and she’d drawn blood from both of us, so we’d had to fast for the draw. Einstein Brothers Bagels were calling our names. And I knew exactly where one was.

Just to be safe, I asked Siri, and she quickly came up with directions.

I began to faithfully follow my little disembodied voice. For about two miles.

Then I told Deb that it didn’t look right.

Why it didn’t look right is a mystery. I hadn’t been this way. But it felt wrong. So I took my own turn.

And it felt more wrong.

Fifteen minutes later, now most assuredly lost, Deb grabbed my phone, and Siri recalculated.

Seems she knew what she was talking about all along.

Siri isn’t the only one I question if something doesn’t feel right to me. I do the same thing with God. He so clearly tells me in His Word what is the best path to follow, the best way to pursue. And I often listen to Him and follow Him. God has proved himself faithful.

But there are times things just don’t look right to me. Or I get it in my head that I want to go my own way, So I turn off His path and go my way.

And get lost. Or stuck. Or find myself in a place I never wanted to be.

But God doesn’t leave me lost. He’s always with me, willing to lead me to where I need to be.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

I may be directionally challenged, but God, in His love for me, is constantly helping me to recalculate so I can get back on His better course.

First photo courtesy of rick.com.

Second photo courtesy of on.aol.com.