Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22: 17b

Traveling

            The blue sky was glorious with sunset color and drifting clouds.  I watched the shifting panorama above and through the leafless trees as we drove south on I-196 on our way home from an after-Christmas visit to our daughter and her family in Michigan. On the map there appeared to be no land between highway and lake, not even a sliver, so I traveled, expecting to see the water.  Though I looked intently through the trees and every clearing, I couldn't ever catch even a glimpse of the lake.  But I knew it was there; the map told me so.  Atlas on my lap, I ran my finger along the blue line of our route and smiled, picturing the way that sunset light was surely glimmering on the water, just over there.  Even without seeing the lake, I knew it was there and felt its presence.  It was a satisfying way to travel.

            At Creation, God made the visible out of the invisible.  Such is faith.  We must believe before we can see.

            On our way north a few days before, we had followed a printed list of instructions instead of a map.  It was a precise way to travel, though cold and a bit disorienting as town names and geographical features were not included among the highway and exit numbers and the precise-to-a-tenth of a mile distances between.  As we traveled, we had no sense of where we actually were as we followed the checklist of statistics which bore no connection with the landscape.  The directions were technically correct, yes, and they did get us to our daughter's house, but it was an unsatisfying way to travel that engendered no connection with the land through which we were traveling and left little time for reflection.  We might have been pieces on a game board being moved along by forces outside ourselves, instead of human beings traveling across a varied and beautiful landscape.

            In our faith walk, are we, finger on the artery of truth, following the map of God's Word for ourselves?  Are we, in faith, seeing the big picture, even when it isn't visible?  Is our walk personal?  Do we feel connected?  Is it real?  Or are we merely following a checklist of directions, religious rules and regulations handed down to us by family tradition, or a denomination, or our favorite teacher or preacher?

            How are you traveling? 

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. . . .You love Him even though you have never seen Him.  Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him: and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.  I Peter 1: 6, 8-9.

            If your mode of travel feels disconnected and unsatisfying, the New Year is the perfect time to get connected.  Make it real.  Make it joy!

Daye Phillippo

January 2015