by Robert Tamasy
Which inventions, in your opinion, have had the greatest impact on mankind? It would be impossible to compile a complete list, but certainly among the most significant have been innovations like the electric light, automobile, airplane, synthetic fibers, personal computer, Internet, cell phone. You can probably think of many others, but one more recent tool I would add to the list is the global positioning system (GPS).
For “directionally challenged” people like me, the GPS is a godsend. If you give me directions for how to get somewhere 10 times, it is likely the 11th time I will have to ask you again. For whatever reason, my mind does not retain linear information such as directions to a destination I do not visit frequently. So having a GPS is a great help, especially when traveling in an unfamiliar city.
It has been observed that many men are particularly reluctant to ask directions – they take pride in being able to reach a destination without anyone’s help, human or technological. To me, however, that makes little sense. If your intent is to arrive at a certain place, why not try to learn the best, most efficient route?
What if a “GPS” were available for charting the often rough, unpredictable terrain of our everyday lives: What is the best career for me? Is this a good time to change jobs? How can we reinvent our business to appeal to a changing market? When should I make that investment? Where is that key staff person we are seeking? What is the best way to balance my personal and professional life? How do I get out of debt?
Actually, there is such a “device.” We know it as the Bible. We could also call it a GPS – God’s Positioning System. Let me explain:
Trust the “navigator.” When using a GPS in an automobile, it serves us best when we trust in its directions for guiding us to the destination. Time and experience have taught me God desires to serve as our navigator through life. Years ago I learned this verse, which has served as a continual reminder: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Be willing to change direction. When using an in-car GPS, if we make an incorrect turn we will hear it say, “recalculating.” Then it will revise the directions to keep us headed toward the destination. In a similar way, if we are willing to trust Him, God will redirect our lives, correct our decisions and adjust our plans to enable us to fulfill our goals and objectives, both personally and professionally. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
Remain confident even when surroundings seem unfamiliar. When driving in a car relying on a GPS, there are times when we wonder, “Are these directions right?” Usually, failure to trust the GPS and starting to rely on our own judgment and intuition instead is when we get into difficulty and find ourselves lost, far from where we wanted to go. This is why it is important to trust in God’s wisdom and guidance as well. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
How are you traveling through life today? Where are you getting guidance you need for the journey?
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.