Location Markers

I have spent most of my life living in an urban setting. As I write this, I live in a city and serve one urban and four rural congregations. Initially, one of the challenges in the parish was finding my way around. In the city it is easy using street addresses. In the rural setting, that’s another story. One kind parishioner gave me a municipal map to guide me. Now the thing about a municipal map, you really need to know where you are in order to use the map, and if you lose count of the crossroads, you are lost. Now, with a few years in the parish, I know the location markers and find the municipal map hugely helpful.

Joshua, the leader God exalted, is providing those location markers for the Israelites as he leads them. He tells them what to look for, how to recognize God’s presence with them in both the good and tough times. As they became more in tune with God’s eternal presence among them, the location markers were ever-present and visible to them. So too, with us in our faith journey, the more we are in tune with God’s presence, the more the location markers are there in the big things and little things to guide us.

Holy God, thank you for your real presence always. Amen. — LH