It is no secret that I am a poor navigator. I have written about the GPS lady and how she has tried to cause issues within my marriage. I have shared about my personal Bermuda Triangle, and I’ve heard from many of you that I am not alone in my need for landmark descriptions when given directions, as opposed to such vague terms as, “It’s on the northwest corner of the intersection.”
But, we are not here to discuss my lack of navigational skills today. We are here to discuss direction. And the GPS lady is not invited.
According to the dictionary, direction means:
a course along which someone or something moves.
I think of peeling the cellophane off a brand new board game and pulling out the shiny sheet of directions that I have to read about 12 times before I can explain the game to my family.
I think of the nurses in the hospital that sent us home with our newborn and directions to lay our baby on his back to sleep, not his tummy.
I think of the GPS lady bossing me around.
And I have to admit, though I despair over my navigational issues, sometimes it is nice to be given directions. To be told just what to do and how to do it. Because then you have a clear verdict on whether you have succeeded or failed. You are either at your destination, or you’re not. You’ve accomplished the task, or you haven’t.
When I come to a figurative fork in the road of life, I sometimes feel like the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz is the one giving me directions. One minute I think I should go left, the next minute I’m convinced right is the correct path. What do I do? Where do I go? What is the plan for my day? My week? My life?
Will someone just give me a landmark to guide me!
And yet, Someone has.
God has given us His Word, the Bible. I don’t wish to come off as super-spiritual (yuck!), and I am not aiming to sound “holier than thou” (Ew!). I am just telling you what I believe to be true. When I read the Bible and live according to it, I find direction.
No, the Bible is never going to say, “Head north to that new job offer.” Or, “Change lanes here and break-up with your boyfriend.” Or, “Recalculate your decision to buy everything in your Amazon cart!” No. But it’s going to guide us, lead us, give us a course along which to move.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
God’s Word illuminates our way. It guides us and keeps us heading in the right direction.
We just have to read it and then put it into practice.
Read it.
Listen to it.
Study it.
Apply it.
Direction.
And any failures, when following God’s Word, are a result of user error, not of the navigational tool itself.
The GPS lady and I still differ on who causes our failures.
This post was written as part of the Five Minute Friday challenge, where writers are encouraged to write for about 5 minutes based on a one-word prompt. This week’s word: DIRECTION
Christy Cabe 
I considered two different ideas this morning…after reading the prompt. And this was one of them: Read the Directions! Glad you said it:) Enjoyed your post!