Re-calculating

Not to brag...but I am the proud owner of a new Garmin nuvi 205W GPS device. It was my Christmas present from Connie. I realize, that for many of you, global positioning systems are nothing new...no big deal. I, however, am excited about it, fascinated by it, and intrigued with it all at once. I am developing an interesting (at least to me) relationship with my Garmin.

I can depend on it to always know exactly where I am. I press a button on the touch screen that reads, "Where Am I?" and instantly I can see my position on the display. Latitude, longitude, nearest address, nearest intersection...even elevation. I don't know why I would ever really need to know just how far above sea level I am at any given point...unless I want to do an experiment to determine just when my ears start "popping" as I drive up a mountain...but, the fact remains, I can know it. There is something both assuring and disconcerting about my Garmin knowing exactly where I am.

I can depend on it to know what is around me. I just have to touch a button on the screen to find the nearest hospital, police station, shopping mall...you name it and my GPS knows where it is in relation to me. It can tell me what restaurants are nearest to me...broken down by types of cuisine. (For the record...I already know where the nearest barbecue place is...no matter where I am! I have an internal GPS when it comes to good barbecue.)

More practically..and the reason Connie bought it for me..I can count on my Garmin to direct me precisely to a destination when I have no idea how to get there on my own. Due to the nature of my job, there are often times I'll get a phone call alerting me to something that needs my immediate attention. I need to get to a home, a hospice, a hospital...somewhere....and I'll have no idea how to proceed. A frantic (and usually unsafe) exercise to determine and write down directions has now been replaced with a couple of touches. I have already learned that I can trust my Garmin to deliver me...precisely...to my destination.

The thing I love the most, however, is that my Garmin never gives up on me...it never loses sight of me. There are times when I'm trying to follow the directions on the screen but I encounter a detour. You know...due to roadwork or an accident...both of which are oh so common in this neck of the woods. I am forced by circumstances beyond my control to travel a different direction. Sometimes, it is I who choose not to follow the directions on my GPS. I see what it is telling me to do...but I think I know better. I am smarter. I choose to make a turn...I choose to travel a different way. When that happens...my Garmin starts to speak to me.

What I do NOT hear is, "Uh oh...a detour. I didn't anticipate this. I don't know what to tell you now." Neither do I hear, "OK...so you think you are smarter than me? You think you know a better way? Go ahead big boy...you are on your own. I quit."

What I hear instead...whether a detour beyond my control or my own choices take me in a different direction...is a rather pleasant female voice with a British accent saying...

"Re-calculating."

My Garmin is telling me, "OK...I still see you. I've still got you. I'm still at work here. We'll get through this together. Don't worry about it. You can count on me."

I can't help but think how closely my GPS life resembles my faith life.

I serve a God who always knows exactly where I am. This is His promise to me. I can depend on it. To be honest...that is both comforting and disconcerting. There are times, quite humanly, I'd rather not be seen.

I serve a God who always knows what is around me...behind me...in front of me. I can depend on it.

I serve a God who wants to direct my path...who will direct my path. I serve a God who will deliver me precisely...and safely...to the destination. I can depend on it.

The thing I love the most, however, is that my God never gives up on me and never loses sight of me. There are times when I am hit with unanticipated life circumstances...with detours...that require that I change direction...go a different way. There are times that I simply choose to go my own way...to determine my own path. I am so grateful, during those times, that I don't sense God saying, "Uh oh...a detour. I didn't anticipate this. I don't know what to tell you." I am so grateful that never once have I sensed God saying, "OK...so you think you are smarter than me? You think you know a better way? Go ahead big boy...you are on your own. I quit."

What I sense instead...whether a detour beyond my control or my own foolish choices lead me in a different direction...is that steady, unwavering presence of God saying, "OK...I still see you. I've still got you. I'm still at work here. We'll get through this together. Don't worry about it. You can count on me."

Re-calculating...