Course Correction

My sister dated a guy in New Jersey’s Monmouth County Park System, which opened the door for me landing a sweet job teaching white water canoeing for several summers. No, the pay wasn’t great, but drifting in the Delaware River on many a warm August day often caused me to reflect why I was paid at all.

High on the list of necessary skills to acquire for traveling any distance over a body of water, is how to keep the vessel in a straight line. With a canoe, as I’m sure it is with all watercraft, the key is to pick a point on the horizon and keep your bow (the pointy front of the boat) in line with that marker. If the bow starts moving even slightly to the left or right of that spot, immediate course correction is not only helpful, but in the long run essential, to completing the journey well. An “S” shaped path can be 2-3x longer and much more arduous.

I believe our walk with the Lord is similar.

Now one side of me does not want to bring up this line of thought because I am aware of many a person who needs to learn to relax, not be so intense, and trust God more amidst all the turns and failures of life. For those who live life as if they serve a God who treats them as their sins deserve, get another God.

But with that being said, scripture is clear that our words, decisions and actions matter. I wonder if it’s possible to open any page of the Bible which does not in some measure address consequences. The biblical story that always grabbed by attention was the Gibeonite deception of Joshua (Joshua 9). In the middle of the story is one simple line:

"So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD." – Joshua 9:14

This story is told in the midst of an Israel that is repentant, moving forward, and taking the land. This is not a rebellious people, but still a people who can easily go off course. 

So how do we walk with the Lord without being neurotic and fearful, or complacent and callous?

This past Sunday, Robin preached from Acts 2:14-41, where those who heard Peter’s sermon said, “Brothers, what shall we do?” To which Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized.”

Now if I’m a believer hearing that message, do I say, “Check. Done that. Got the t-shirt.” Or should there be something more? 

What I hear Peter sharing in his sermon is not a one time past event, but a present activity. Yes, Jesus has died, risen and ascended... but he has yet to return. The message itself is a train moving forward through history. I need to grab onto it today and take hold. It is rushing towards an end point. Am I?

What keeps us from being neurotic as we seek to be perpetually engaged with moving forward in God, is the content of the message itself... who Jesus is and what he is like. Jesus has just been portrayed as a man among us, and judge of all the earth; the one who suffered wrath, and the one who crushed sin and Satan; the one who pours out his Spirit, and the one to whom every spirit will bow. 

This morning I was unsettled. I may be again tomorrow morning. When I am, I stop and pray – “Lord show me the way. Help me discern between feelings, faith and fear, between truth and trivialities, between demons and desires.” This is the ongoing ‘course correction’ of everyday life with God.

And it works, not because I am so diligent, focused, or perceptive... but because there is someone in the boat with me! In fact, he is in the stern, ultimately directing the boat. 

Slowly read and receive afresh this New Covenant promise which is for you:

"For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." – Isaiah 30:19-21

May you hear the Lord’s voice directing you today.