God as my GPS

In a recent theological reflection given by one of my colleagues, Linda, McGee, in our theology class, this metaphor about God as my GPS came to me...

She and I are both third year students in a four year program given though The University of the South at Sewanee, TN, through our local Episcopal church.

Linda had handed out cards to each of us, but told us not to look at them until after the three meditation bells had rung. We were to meditate for seven or so minutes on what was on the card. Then the three bells ending the meditation would ring, and we could share our experiences.

We got comfortable in our chairs. (I prefer Buddhist meditation cushions, but hey, I'm adaptable.) The lights were dimmed. The meditation bells went through their ringing. I turned my card over. It read, "Darrell--you are a beloved child of God." "Hmm," I thought, then let myself move into that quiet meditative state.

After a short period the idea of a GPS, that is Geo Positioning System, popped into my head. I could hear the little voice in my GPS, saying "Turn left here, turn left here...". I thought about my recent use of it. It is a new toy from my son-in-law because I am always using his when I have to go out of town to a new destination. I guess he was tired of me borrowing his.

In the recent usage, I was going over to another member of our theology class's house for a social. I always go a back way to avoid traffic and towns. The GPS was having fits with me. It wanted to take me around the front way, through the towns and traffic.

It kept saying things like, "turn left here, turn left here, you have missed your turn, make a u-turn here, repositioning, etc." I know it is not possible, but it felt like the thing was growing exasperated with me. Trying to figure out where in the hell I was going, and me not following its directions. In truth these were just my projections. A computer, especially a simple one as in a GPS, can't get exasperated or annoyed, or puzzled. I know this.

In my life, God acts as my GPS. Unfortunately, he is the only one of the two of us that knows where he wants me to go...and me, being true to form, keep trying to go my own way.

He is always having to say to me in one form or another, "Take a left (or right) here, right turn one mile ahead." He does a lot of, "You've missed your turn, dummy. Make a u-turn up ahead." And, "Where the hell are you going?" Sorry, God.

Faith and Trust

My faith is about trust. Trusting God to guide me.

Faith for me is not about believing the factuality of Scripture or the Bible, for example. It is about trust in the truth that lies behind Scripture. I read and interpret Scripture as parable and metaphor, not fact or historically accurate. Some of it may be historically accurate and that is great, but I don't count on it.

Likewise, trusting in God to guide me, means trusting he is there working in and through my life. In my life he works a lot through synchronicity in the people I meet, the messages I am brought, and the opportunities that are presented to me. These include even the negative ones.

So I think God may well get exasperated with me, but he is a loving and patient God. He does guide my life, on my good days, I know this. On my bad days, well, I forget often that he is there and have to remind myself or he reminds me, "Turn left, turn right, pay attention!"

Peace and blessings.

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Dr. Y "Thinks" Index

Christ--who was he?
Strange Piece of Ass Syndrome
Christian heresies
Baby boomers are dancing on... e
A Wild Ride
Dannion Brinkley
Circumcision
Why Vision Quest?
Vision Quest 1998
Enlightenment on a Harley
God, faith and the Recession
Breakfast Blessing
The Closet
God as my GPS
God as my GPS
Descartes and Christianity
Health Care Reform and Christianity

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