lent day 24

 Yesterday Keith had to go to a meeting in Armagh.  He asked if I wanted to go along for the ride and as I didnt have anything else much to do I said yes.  Despite the fact that we both know the way to Armagh Keith decided to put the destination into the sat nav and follow its direction instead. Sat nav sent us a way that neither of us would have considered;  Im not sure if it was shorter by a mile or two but it took us across country and seemed to take ages.  We both agreed that coming home we would go via the motorway on the route we both knew.

However, after Keith had finished his meeting and Id had an hour of pottering around the centre of Armagh in the sunshine we got back in the car and I saw him reach for the sat nav.  ' Hang on' says I ' I thought we were going back via the motorway'  'Yes' says Keith still fiddling to put home into the satnav. ' Well we dont need the gadget then do we?  We just follow the road signs to the motorway.'  'Oh yes' (puts phone away)  And off we went and we got home quickly via the well trodden path.

Sitting here thinking about the blog I wondered what the sat nav dependence tells me about how I live my life.  Its certainly true that I think most of us reach for technology rather than common sense these days but theres a deeper truth here.  Jesus is the Way. In everything. For all of us.   I know Jesus and I know His ways. So why do I still sometimes look elsewhere for answers and direction?  Just at the moment I find myself at a bit of a crossroads - or a hiatus - in life.  Im not working.  The boys have all now left home. I had imagined Id be spending more and more time visiting and taking care of Mum over the next couple of years but she died so unexpectedly quickly that I find myself looking into 2024 and wondering what to do now.  Its an odd feeling. Im not sure there has ever been a time in my life when Ive had less idea of whats next on the agenda.  Im 57. Im aware that I might have 15 years of good health and activity ahead and that those years are going to go quickly.  I feel I should be doing something 'useful' but I have no idea what.  By the end of the year I will have inherited some money from Mum's estate. What should I do with it?  Invest for my future retirement ?  Travel the world?  Build a school in Africa?  

At times like this its tempting to turn to the SatNav of advice, opinions, social expectations, financial demands etc etc and not trust the way you have always gone before - the way of Jesus.  When I stop to remind myself I look back and see how He has always led me. Always gone before and opened doors. Brought people and situations into my life at the right time.  And of course He will do that again. As long as I have eyes to see and ears to hear.  My worry is that I will get too lazy to do whatever He says to do next.  Im enjoying doing nothing much and going out for coffee with friends -which is OK for a while but I fear will be a waste of time and talent if it goes on for too long.  One thing Ive noticed is that as Im getting older Im getting less prepared to sacrifice myself  to other peoples needs and wants. I want to do some of the things that bring me joy. Because I actually do think that wholeheartedness is the key to showing Jesus to the world. 

Ill let you know when I know where Im going. 😊  In the meantime I shall drink coffee and wait for directions.