Directionally Challenged

I am directionally challenged. While I can’t think of a time I was actually lost in my own back yard, that might be the only place I’m safe. I seem to have been born with limited spatial intelligence and most of the time, I have no idea where I am in space.

Now where did I leave that car? 

I once met my friend Susan for a movie at a local theatre located in a complex of stores, restaurants, and condominiums. We watched the movie, ate at a nearby restaurant, and headed to our cars. Susan had parked closer than I had and offered to take me to my vehicle. I directed her to the correct floor in the parking garage. Only, my car wasn’t there. I was sure no one had stolen my 2000 Buick Century. But I didn’t see any other possibility. But then it became clear. We were on the right floor, but in the wrong garage.

God has a sense of humor, and nowhere is this better illustrated than the fact that I have spent my entire career doing home visits. When I first started, cell phones were non-existent, and GPS was a blip on the technology radar. They issued me a car and a road map and expected me to figure it out.

Turn right at the  … or did he say left? 

That meant getting directions from the clients themselves. Do you realize that most people don’t know how to give good directions to where they live? And I worked with transient populations. Each month would bring a new list of residences to verify when I hadn’t become comfortable with the ones from the previous month yet.

I have backed down steep hills when confronted by a barbed wire fence, nearly hit a cow lying in the middle of what appeared to be a driveway, and mastered the art of the 15-point turn after finding myself at a no trespassing sign with a cow pasture on one side and a river on the other. It is only by God’s grace I got out of some of those situations. 

Waze to the rescue for the directionally challenged

I am grateful for the Waze app that tells me exactly where to turn and which lane to be in. When I used to have to ask people for directions, it was always a comedy of errors. Please don’t tell me “You can’t miss it.” I take that as a personal challenge. “Wanna bet?”

Even worse, please don’t use cardinal directions. If you tell me to go east 5 miles before turning north, you will see my eyes glaze over. Tell me to turn left at Starbucks. Or at least tell me whether to turn left or right and how many stoplights I need to count. I may stand half a chance of finding a location with that kind of information.

Moss always grows on the north? Or does it?

You would think that someone with my ineptitude for all things navigational would avoid things like hikes and time spent in the woods. But I love being outdoors. And, I live in the Great Smoky Mountains where the fresh air, mountain streams and amazing views are worth the effort. Plus, I have dogs.

I don’t make any secrets about this deficit, and most of my friends have gotten the phone call or text from me that I missed a turn or am just a bit lost and will be there when I can.

So, I’m not sure how my friend Elaine got roped into my spatial ineptitude. But we managed to get agonizingly lost one late Autumn Day. It was on a trail classified as “Easy” in just about any guidebook you check. But we spent several hours wandering around in steady, bone chilling rain and suffocating fog with 2 soggy dogs and no provisions. No one knew where we were either. It was a disaster in waiting. Thankfully we got out with no injuries other than our pride.

Not the only one.

So, believe me when I say that I understand Nathaniel’s frustration at the Last Supper. Jesus begins telling the disciples that He is about to die. But He couches this in terms like “going away”. He tells them they can’t follow right now. But they will later.

Confusion oozes from Nathaniel’s plea. “We don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way.” I get it. “Jesus, do we take a right at the fish and challah stand by the lake, or do we catch a ferry at the boat ramp?

Jesus responded, “I am the Way.” And I’m not sure that helped much right then. Of course, they would understand in just a few days. But I can’t blame Nathaniel if he sighed and rolled his eyes.

Some direction for the directionally challenged

With my checkered history of being directionally challenged, I was excited when my dog trainer announced that they were going to host a course called “How not to die in the woods.” It was a part of a series they have been doing on hiking with your dog. I was the first to sign up.

Expert expertise

The course was taught by a woman who had through hiked the 2200 miles of the Appalachian trail – alone. She’s certified in search and rescue. I should probably consider buying her a steak now – before she has a chance to pull me back from the brink of disaster.

As I listened to her speak, she was calm and concise. She had rescued people who had done dumb things like head out on a trail with no provisions. And she had found some bodies as well.

Her advice was spot on. And it applies to our walk with Jesus as well.  I want to finish this journey called life well. 

How not to die in the woods. Or How to finish your Christian walk well.

1. Don’t try to go it alone. Our instructor told us how important it was to let others know where we are going and when we plan to return. Likewise, we need fellow believers we can check in with, who know when we are not ok and will step in and help.

2. Dress appropriately. If Elaine and I had put on appropriate clothing, our ordeal would have been less scary. Likewise, we would be wise to prepare daily for our time on the spiritual trail. Put on the garment of praise, then suit up with the whole armor of God. We’ll be ready for whatever awaits us.

3. Be aware of the risks. Black bears are a constant nuisance in the Smokies. Copperheads and rattlesnakes are a concern. But bees, mosquitos, and ticks are more dangerous than any of the others. Our adversary – Satan- is described as a roaring lion, and we need to be prepared to battle his henchmen. It’s easy to see the damage done by the “big” sins.  But it is often the “little” sins, the ones no one sees, that make us spiritually sick and keep us off the trail. 

Helpful hints for the directionally challenged

Our instructor also told us what we needed to take with us any time we were out and about.

Pack Light. Pack well

1. Never leave home without food and water. We need food for energy. And we don’t notice when we start getting dehydrated. The bread and water of life are free for the taking. But I’ve been guilty of running out of the house in the morning without either.

2. Have a compass and a map. God has given us the guidance that we need. His word gives clear direction for any situation we might face. But if I don’t check the map, I might as well not have one.  

3. Shelter is a basic need. You don’t have to carry a full-size tent, but a tarp and a means to anchor it can provide comfort and warmth in a cold, damp place. The Name of the Lord is a strong tower. Meditate on the names of God and learn to call on Him in every situation.

4. Keep a flashlight with you and have the means to build a fire if necessary. Psalm 119 tells us that God’s word is a lamp to our feet. Light isn’t much good if I don’t use it. I need to use the Word of God to illuminate the path and inform my decisions. 

5. Have a first aid kit readily available. Even with the best preparation, injuries happen.   Insect bites and sunburns can make you uncomfortable. And a blister untreated can keep you hobbling for days. James 5:16 reminds us that prayer is a powerful remedy. When we confess our sins to one another and pray for one another, God brings healing.  This is powerful first aid. 

One last thing.

My teacher gave me one final piece of advice. When you realize that you’re lost, stop and wait for help. If you keep wandering, you make it very difficult for search teams to find you. If you stop wandering around and get comfortable, the search and rescue teams will have a better chance of getting you out safely.

Likewise, if you allow the enemy to lead you astray, as soon as you are convicted and know you need help, stop. Pray for the Holy Spirit to get you out. Call on your support team. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from admitting your failure. We’ve all been there. There is always a way out.

Still directionally challenged.

I learned a lot in the survival class. I’m still directionally challenged. I don’t think there’s much I can do to fix that. But I have the tools that should keep me safe if I get in a jam again.

Likewise, I’m always going to be human. There’s an old hymn that says “I’m prone to wander.” That is true of me and probably of you as well.

While Nathaniel didn’t know the way when he ate that last Passover with Jesus, He understood by the time Pentecost came. Jesus gave him a road map and sent the Comforter to show the way.

That’s how we don’t “die in the woods” in the Christian life, even if we are directionally challenged.  We have the best guide ever, the Holy Spirit.