Losing your way

Some people have a clear idea of where they are going and how to get there having a focused single-minded approach to life. Others know where they want to get to but are not so sure of the way and there are those like Thomas in John 14 who do not know where they are going and so have no idea how to get there!

You find these approaches in daily life and also in the spiritual life – the life of prayer.

When I run a long distance I am conscious of the danger of losing my way. If you want to get home and you have only a finite amount of energy and time it is important to stay on track. In preparing for my 50K run I spent a lot of time studying the OS maps and on the actual day the route was well signposted. Yet twice I managed to go the wrong way! What happened?

The first time, at the top end of the course, there was a critical right turn. It was after a long uphill climb and the rain was falling. My glasses not having windscreen wipers I just didn’t see the arrow I was looking for. Circumstances meant I didn’t see the way,  my vision was impaired. I could have been heading in the wrong direction for a long time had not one kind person following me shouted out to get my attention.

The second time I met a group of walkers coming towards me. In paying attention to politely passing them I completely missed another right turn!

In order to find the right way we need to be aware of the conditions we are in. Though we might miss them there are signs to follow. God is not hiding from us, we just do not see him. Sometimes we may be distracted by people going in other directions – they have their own path to follow and we should not be put off though we should be respectful of them. Jesus tells us not to be worrying about others when we need to look first to ourselves.

We mustn’t lose our way!

— The Rev’d Philip Davison