GPS

I got home late last night from a four-day trip to Kansas City and back. My wife, two girls and my parents along with their GPS went out to visit my brother, his wife and our niece. Little Mikayla was born Sept. 11th this year and due to work schedules and other committments this is the first opportunity we had to visit. Though I got a nasty cold during the trip I enjoyed spending time with family and meeting my niece! I also enjoyed my time with the Kansas City Chapter of the Ohio State Alumni Association. We watched the Buckeyes hand the Wolverines their fifth straight loss in the long-standing rivalry.

Buckeyes aside, you probably noticed that I mentioned my parents' GPS. I don't know if I love it or hate it. That thing is great for plotting how long its going to take to get somewhere and its good for giving you some routes but like all computers it can't read my mind and it doesn't understand big-city traffic very well. It also only works as fast as the operator can enter information into it... On one occasion it expected me to "stay left on I-70 W" as we approached an exit ramp. I took that advice and moved into the left lane. As soon as we cleared that ramp it told me to "exit right on I-435 South", as we passed that exit ramp. I could have made it had it not been for the two other lanes of cars in the way! Obviously we missed that exit. Then it wanted me to do a U-turn several times and it expected us to drive the wrong way down a one-way street another time. My favorite thing of all is when you disobey this piece of technological genious the programed voice almost sounds annoyed as it says "recalculating."

Isn't it nice that God is not just a GPS. Not only does He know where we're going but he knows where we've been and not just on this particular trip. He knows our entire history and whether or not we'll take His advice. He provided us with THE map to help us stay on course. He always provides an exit when we really need one and He has the right answer for when we miss the exit He's provided. His grace isn't some annoying voice that says He's recalculating when we step out of line. His Holy Spirit doesn't lag behind when we need to act fast. Though he does sometimes tell us to turn away or to work against the flow its never the wrong way.

Thank you Father for being so much more than a GPS in our lives!