Following Directions!

So many of us have been driving for so long that we often drive on automatic pilot; especially when we are going places that are familiar to us. We can of course drive to work and home without paying much attention to the available street and highway signs. We want to ensure that we get there safely, so we are cautious, particularly about other drivers, (and even the police).

But what happens when we need to follow directions, you know, to get to a place more unfamiliar to us or maybe where we have never been before? Some of us use computer generated directions such as map quest, or use GPS systems in our car. Some of us may call ahead to our destinations to confirm addresses and even clarify directions. Some may even use a printed map to ensure that they are going the right direction to get to the desired destination; being mindful to take the phone number of our desired location with us, just in case we get lost on the way.

We are very careful to pay attention to street and highway signs; east, west, north south, highway markers, names at exits, yield, stop, bear left bear right, fork in the road. We don’t want to drive too fast because we don’t want to miss the exit or the street we are supposed to turn on. And heaven forbid there is inclement weather. We are particularly cautious then, as rain or snow can limit visibility and make road conditions tenuous. We become hyper-conscious in inclement weather of other drivers, who may not be as careful on the roadways.

But what about the directions the Creator gives? Are we driving through life on automatic pilot, not being mindful or careful, because we are familiar with the way? Are we so confident of our own destination that we don’t pay attention to the street and highway signs, direction us to go, stop, yield, watch out for pedestrians, or fork in the road? Do we seek assistance in determining the appropriate route to take to get to a new or unfamiliar destination; consulting divine and righteous guides like the Bible or the Holy Quran? Do we heed that still sweet voice that provides mile markers and reassurances that we are traveling the right way, even in inclement weather?

Heeding the Creator’s call provides perfected direction for our lives. There may be some missed exits along the way, because of our human nature. But He has a way of providing sufficient opportunity for a legal u-turn that puts us back on our purposed path. He ensures that the street and highway signs are clear and visible, even in stormy weather; and that we have sufficient time to take the correct exit and make the proper turns.

Have you sought divine directions to find your purposed destination, or do you think you are familiar with the right and can get there on automatic pilot?