A GUIDE FOR THE JOURNEY
by Tim Hansel

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide...."
Psalm 48:14

A map is not the same as being there. A map shows you where to go and how to get there. It shows you where the high places are and what they will be like. But it is no substitute for the wilderness itself.

The Bible is a map and a survival manual for the Christian life. The Holy Spirit is the compass and our personal guide. But we still have to put our boots on and explore the wilderness ourselves. We can't get there by taxi.

None of us knows exactly what we will find. There will be  difficult places as well as awesome beauty.  There will be hard grinds and oasis. There will be moving experiences, and some experiences we would like to avoid altogether.

But the more time we spend in the wilderness, the more comfortable we become there. The rugged terrain turns into veritable adventure. The unique beauty is an invitation to the mystery of living, and we begin to appreciate the gift of each day.