I
love adventure camping—the kind of camping involving only a backpack, a map
and a compass. The sense of adventure and the risk of getting lost are all part
of the fun; that is, until you get lost. I recall two times when I almost got
lost (ok...maybe I was a little lost)—one was on Mount Rainier cutting across
a foggy snow-covered trail with my wife and the other was in the desert in the
Middle East with friends. In both cases, typical trail markers were not
available and there was no one around to ask directions, so a compass and a map
were the only sources of direction to guide us to our final destination. But as
many of you may know, charting a course for miles following only a compass point
requires a measure of concentration, exactness, and steadfastness few of us
possess. Travelling only one degree off direction, amplified by many miles, can
take you far off-course, and in a real live adventure environment, can mean the
difference between life and death. Successfully navigating by compass requires
four important things: a full understanding of where you are, a clear final
destination point, a good map, and an exact knowledge of the angle of
declination at your current location. The
angle of declination or magnetic
declination is the angle measured in degrees between
compass north (the direction the north end of a compass needle actually points)
and true
north
(the direction along the earth's surface towards the geographic North
Pole). Even if you know where you are and exactly where you are heading, without
knowing the difference between magnetic north and true north, your compass is
useless over long distances.
I
find the above compass example a fitting analogy for our Christian life here on
earth. So often I guide myself according to the map the world offers and
navigate by the world’s compass, which points towards magnetic north but not
true north. Certainly, as with any well-worn, well-marked trail, there are many
milestone markers along the world’s path to ensure I am heading in the
“right” direction: college graduation, a successful career, a first house, a
big retirement account, and community recognition. Moreover, there are many
fellow travelers, some even calling themselves Christians, who coach me, direct
me, and encourage me to remain on the path. Honestly, it’s hard to feel lost
or even notice I am heading in the wrong direction with so many people walking
along side of me, urging me forward. You can imagine where I end up following
magnetic north instead of true north after several years, not to mention a
lifetime.
As
Richard Stearns so poignantly shares in Chapter 10 (God’s Spiritual GPS) of
his book Unfinished, the road signs
posted in our world, which seem to offer hope, inevitably point us in the wrong
direction. But thankfully God, in His loving mercy, has given us two amazing
gifts to keep us heading towards True North—the bible, the greatest map on
earth, and the Holy Spirit, the greatest navigating compass on earth. However,
having the tools available to you and actually using them for their intended
purpose are two completely different things. Knowing how to read a map and use a
compass take years of practice, but over time they become your best and most
trusted friends during your journey—in difficult, stormy, and crooked times,
as well as in easy, bright skies, and straight path times. Unfortunately, more
often than not, my biggest hiking problem is one of distraction, where I am
admiring the scenery along the trail and I fail to consult the map or check my
compass heading. Regrettably, I have had to double-back, correct my course, and
start walking all over again more times than I would like to admit. The same
goes with my Christian walk, but the Holy Spirit is truly a game changer,
providing me with the power, wisdom, and desire to correct my path every time I
misstep. All I can say is: “thank you, God”!
“Lord,
I pray you help me follow your Word and listen to the Holy Spirit.
Help me always to stand at the crossroads, to reflect and to look around.
Help me always to ask for the ancient path, to ask where the good way is,
and help me always to walk in it—
for there I will find rest for my soul.”
– adapted from Jeremiah 6:16
Help me always to stand at the crossroads, to reflect and to look around.
Help me always to ask for the ancient path, to ask where the good way is,
and help me always to walk in it—
for there I will find rest for my soul.”
– adapted from Jeremiah 6:16
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