A few weeks ago, while driving madly to get to Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to borrow a little digital device (yes, I know...I'm fascinated with all little digital gadgets) called a GPS. Because I was driving virtually by myself and four children and a co-pilot who wasn't familiar with the drive, I relied heavily on this small 3x4 inch device. A quiet, refined voice would call out the directions of roads to be taken and turns to make.I started my journey with a few lines of destination, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. It magically created a route, through mountains, across plains, past towns and cities. I watched as the landscape flew by the driver's window and one unfamiliar sight melded into another. I never once grew nervous that I was being led astray by this voice. I continued on in utmost confidence until at last, I turned off the freeway and entered the military base. I had stayed strong and unemotional throughout the journey until that moment. Yes, I had a meltdown of gigantic proportions. I think it was the emotional release of making it over 18 hours in the car with 4 children, only stopping briefly for a bathroom break or two. Luckily I had found my safe harbor with Daniel and I felt secure.
A few days later I used the device as I navigated the unfamiliar streets of Wichita, Kansas trying to find a museum to visit while playing "tourist". Again, I hoped that the quite voice would guide me to my destination. I took the exit it prescribed and found myself in a detour of road construction. It told me to take a left where my GPS told me to take a right. I became flustered because the GPS kept telling me to make a U turn and go the other direction. Being in unfamiliar territory, in an unfamiliar rental car, I wasn't sure exactly how to make adjustments to my route. I finally found a parking area and entered detour information and found an alternate way to our destination. Again, I trusted it to tell me exactly where to go and how to get there, even though the local city information threw a wrench into it.
The next day, we decided to travel to Liberty, MO and visit Liberty Jail, one of the LDS Church Historical sites. I entered what I thought was the correct address, but we ended up driving through gullies and over hills, in some of the most gorgeous farming country I've ever seen. For almost an hour or more, we followed the directions to end up on a dead end road, far from where we really expected to go. After a lot of grumbling and re-evaluating, we arrived at our place of intention, and I, more the wiser about putting in the correct North/South coordinates when entering my desired destination.
Through this experience, I relied wholly on a digital device to guide me to places unknown. That is an immense amount trust to put on something other than my own power. I am not sure that is so wise...or is it? No matter your take on religion, or your belief system for that matter, most of us can believe that there is Someone or a Higher Power guiding us in this life. Be it Karma, or Kismet, or the Gift of the Holy Spirit, truth be told, we have something more powerful than my little borrowed GPS unit to guide us in this life. Are we as trusting to what we believe as we are to the directions coming from the digital box?
My experience with the little black device has whetted my appetite for activities such as geocaching or traveling without set plans. I yearn to walk in the city and find a restaurant, just a few feet away, where I can discover new cuisine. I also can't wait to travel to unknown places and experience the joy of arriving at my destination, just as I had planned. This experience has also caused me to ponder and think deeper about my relationship with Deity. Am I as trusting in that relationship as I was with my digital one?
What are some of the things you trust in?
*Image taken from Google*
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