Aug

31

God’s GPS

By Julie B Cosgrove  


All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.  Psalm 25: 10

We often refer to life as  a journey, don’t we.  We call it the Path of Life.  Mine has definitely had its twists and turns. I am sure yours has as well.  At times, obstacles block our ways. Perhaps it is the avalanche of someone near to us becoming terminally ill, or disabled, or dying.  Maybe it is a washed out bridge when we lose a job or a marriage fails.  There is definitely enough rocks along the way on which to stub our toes – pride, jealousy, greed, negative thoughts.   Occasionally we have to stop in our tracks and choose what direction to go.  Perhaps, at times like Hansel and Gretal, we feel we are in the darkest woods and our bread crumbs are gone. We stand lost and cold and cannot find the path at all.

But the Psalmist said all paths – all- of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.   When we put God as the navigator of our lives, whatever path we take, He will be there.  When we follow Him, trust in His word and remember His faithfulness in the past, we know we are  “on the right track”.  We will not lead us astray.

Whatever happens along the way is either in accordance to His plan, or ours. If it is His, it is for the best, even though we may not see why.  We must have faith that things do happen for a reason.  There is a lesson to be learned, an unforeseen obstacle to be avoided, a potential wreck that the detour saved us from having.

If we have gone our own way for a bit, His loving light will shine our way back.  God invented the GPS long before modern man did. It’s called the Holy Spirit - GOD’s  Protective Signal.  His steadfast love calls us back to Him. He is faithful to keep His promises.

Heavenly Father, guide us today and each day down the path of our lives. Whatever comes our way be there to protect us, steer us, detour us or helps us climb over it. Walk besides us, and in those times when we need to follow, walk ahead, and show us the way. When danger lurks, walk behind us and protect our backs.  And when we become too weak, carry us Home.  Amen.

 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; and my hope is in you all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Comments

One Response to “God’s GPS”

  1. Fr. David F. Klein on August 31st, 2009 3:25 pm

    Julie,

    What you have written about the Holy Spirit being the Father’s “GPS” is truly a great meditation and one that speaks to a key subject many Christians struggle with today, namely the subject of God’s holy guidance of our conscience and our moral freedom.

    It is common for people today to see their conscience as a tribunal that creates the good. They believe that conscience was given by God to be the place where they decide what shall be right or wrong for me. If my conscience approves of my decision then God must be approving also.

    But this is not true. Conscience is not a tribunal where a verdict is rendered; rather it is Holy Ground where our soul and intellect and will are formed in the light of universal and objective norms of Truth, that is, God’s Divine Law. As Moses found sacred ground at the Burning Bush and so heard the voice of God calling his name, so the Christian interfaces with the God of the new Moses: Jesus Christ, who also calls us by name: “Come follow Me.”

    Our heavenly Father’s GPS wants to guide the soul away from any notion that we “create” our own value system, etc. This leads only to confusion. And Christian truth is not confusing nor is it too demanding, or difficult to understand. It is not “almost impossible to practice” as so many say.

    Rather God brings our soul to the waters so refreshing. To the holy Gospel and its simplicity, to following Jesus Christ as we learn to trust Him and abandon ourselves into His loving and sacred Heart.

    The destination God’s GPS is set for is our spiritual regeneration and transformation by His grace and renewed each day by His mercy; a rebirth that makes for real and eternal communion with the blessed and Holy Trinity.

    God bless you, and thank you for your good words today!

    Fr. Klein