Where Do You Get Direction?
Directional signs are important.
If you’ve seen the movie Jurassic Park, you probably remember the scene where Dennis Nedry races through the park in one of the park jeeps. With heavy rain and fogged glasses disorienting him, the jeep knocks over the sign pointing the way to the East Dock. As he stands the sign back up, he realizes the directional arrow is loose, allowing it to swivel in all directions.
Clearly, a directional sign that twirls is not very helpful.
This brings me to a thought. Where should we look for spiritual direction?
If you are a regular reader, you probably know I recommend the Bible. But what are our other options? Another book? A reference on something other than theology or God? How about friends who are willing to give us their opinions on the meaning of life?
We may even turn to a spiritual director.
A spiritual director? I’m going to be honest and tell you I had never heard that term until I started writing this post. After doing hours of research, I’m also going to tell you I still don’t have a good grasp of the role of a spiritual director. I know they generally want to help others get in tune with their relationship with themselves, others, and a Higher Power. Those are my words after trying to boil down all I had read to one sentence without lots of attributions.
If you research spiritual direction, you’ll find a large variety. Some focus on Christianity. Some Bahai, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, spiritual but not religious, and even Wicca/Neopaganism, to name just a few. Many spiritual directors claim to have an affiliation with several of these, what they refer to as, traditions and orientations, at the same time.1
I don’t know about you, but all of this sounds exactly like standing in front of the East Dock directional sign watching the arrow spin round and round.
How in the world is a person to know the right direction?
Where Do You Get Direction? #hope #joy #writingcommunity Click To TweetHere’s hope for us. I propose we rely on the word of the one true God, the creator of all there has ever been, or ever will be. You don’t want to hear my opinions, or any other created being, on matters that count. You want it straight from God. So, why not rely on His word?
Paul made this same argument in his encouraging letter to the church at Thessalonica.
“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NASB)
Paul made it a habit to not give the early Christians something that didn’t come straight from God. We see this in another letter from Paul, this time to his young associate Timothy.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NASB)
If I want direction that’s where I’d go. And if I need help along my spiritual journey, I want to be sure those I’m talking with rely on the same source.
How about you? Thoughts on where to get direction?
Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
