This past weekend my husband and I travelled a few hours out of town to a wrestling tournament. It's a small town, so you wouldn't think it would be so difficult to find the high school - all sports parents know to look for the stadium lights. But somehow we got the wrong address off the website, and Mapquest sent us to a side residential street with no high school in sight.
Husband wanted to keep driving (you know the Don't-Ask-For-Directions male gene) but we decided to stop at a gas station because otherwise we would be late. Of course it was up to me to find someone knowlegable. Stopping was enough of a consession.
The first person I asked looked confused and said "I think it's down that street" pointing to a side street. Hmmm ... pretty sure she was wrong.
So I rushed into the store and asked someone stocking the shelves. He didn't know. Strike two.
Within seconds a very saavy sale clerk approached me offering to help. Maybe she sensed my panic and growing frustration - after all, how could two people NOT know where the only high school in town was??? Didn't they drive by the stadium lights every day?
Taking the situation firmly in hand, Miss Competent told me precisely how to get to the high school.
"Go left here, go to the fourth light and turn right by Chase Bank. Then go to the next light and turn right at Sizzler. Then go to the next light and turn right at Jack in the Box."
I love a lady who knows her restaurants! And her way around town. Boom, boom, boom. Within minutes we were finding a seat in the gym, identifying our son among the hundreds of kids on the mats, and settling in for a LONG day of wrestling.
I've always heard about small town directions. Long after the family is gone, the yellow house on the corner is known as the Campbell place. Bridges, water towers and cow pastures provide common directional landmarks. Not always so in the city ... unless the resident once lived in a small town.
Thank you to the kind lady at the gas station who took pity on a city girl.
I think there's a spiritual message or parallel in here, but I can't quite find it. If anyone has any insight, please post your thoughts. I'd love to write a devotion about this experience, but need a biblical connection. I'll give you credit too!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
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5 comments:
Hi Glynnis,
Reading your post made me think of how many times we ask the wrong person for spiritual directions!We are searching for God and may ask or follow the wrong people (I am thinking of my sister here, she believes in a god but not in the one true God, she is looking at hindu, bhuddism, angels, etc.)
The one lady that gave you good directions was obviously a local and knew her was around town. When we are lost we need to ask a "native" (I am thinking of a pastor here) who knows God and His Word and can direct us into His Word so we can learn to listen and get our direction from Jesus, the one True Way.
I pray that my sister will find a friend (she lives in another state and just moved back to US from Au) that is a true Christian and can help lead her to Jesus.
If you had followed the wrong directions, you would not have found your son in time to see his match, gotten more frustrated, etc. How many times do we needlessly spend wondering in the wilderness searching for the right way to God? If we would just let Jesus lead us in the right direction?
Sorry this is getting so lengthy! I hope this will help you find a biblical perspective for your experience! How did your son place in the tournament?
Blessings
Kim
Glynnis,
I don't know about how spiritual this is for an indepth devotion, but I thought it was kind of funny and interesting you might add it to put some humor in whatever you end up writing. You said your husband (just like most men) didn't want to ask for directions. The next time he doesn't want to stop to ask tell him even Jacob asked for directions, but he too sent someone else to get them.
Gen. 46:28
Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.
Glynnis,
Don't know if this helps or not, but it made me think of the passage in Joshua 4:5-7: "and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites,to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?'tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
Hope this helps! :)
Hi, Glynnis!
I can so identify with you! There are times when I know that some experience I have has some spiritual significance, but I have to chew on it a while before that significance becomes clear.
I don't know if you want to identify yourself with Saul, but Chapter 9 of 1 Samuel has several parallels. Saul and his servant have wandered in several areas looking for the lost donkeys of Saul's father. Saul's servant suggests that they seek out the prophet Samuel so that "he will tell us what way to take." They ask directions of two others to find Samuel. When they find him, Saumuel not only tells them where to go and what to do, but also annoints Saul king.
The first thought that crossed my mind when reading your story, however, was Isaiah 30:21: "Whether you turn to the right or left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Please share your finished version with us; we'd love to read it!
Hi Glynnis,
First, I have to say Thank you for your inspirational writing. I was referred to your site by P31 Ministries and am so glad I clicked on that link. Your writing is so genuine, helpful,and filled with the spirit. Thank you for touching my life in so many ways.
I've been reading previous posts, and wanted to respond (better late then never right? :)
I'm not an eloquent a writer, but when you asked for ideas, I was reminded of the story of the gate being narrow- though the path is wide. We travel through life looking for answers and are so easily drawn from moment to moment, trend to trend, etc. We struggle on our own- searching everywhere- but that which we search for, continues to elude us. (the right street to turn down, the right words to say, etc)
Then when we are ready to give up, or get desparate enough, we ask for help. God will always provide that help however, we need to seek wise counsel to make wise decisions. That little voice inside you will let you know you are on the right path. If you feel the slightest hesitation, ask in prayer for guidance. Your heart will tell you, when you have found the true answer.
As the path is wide, the choices are many. Your heart, touched by the holy spirit, will guide you. For God provides all that we need daily and more abundantly than we can imagine.
God wants to be in our lives, yet our pride (not wanting to ask for help) gets in the way. And we miss the opportunity to invite God into our lives.
When we invite God into our day, even in the little things, we walk the narrow path.
I hope that was helpful.
Thanks again for all that you do.
May God continue to Bless you and your family.
Jodi
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