Paths to follow

December 4th

David had a good sense of direction and knew the paths he would often use when going to the shops, his grandma’s and school of course. Beyond that, thoughts of distant towns and countries were often confusing. Maps look so small and give no idea of distance. It was Sunday evening and David was going on a school trip in the morning. His bag was packed and his sandwiches were in the fridge.

“Dad, how did the wise men know how long it would take them and if they would get there in time?”

“I don’t think they did really. They must have had an idea and made some plans, but they would set out with hope and trust – in what they felt was a worthy quest.”

“What kind of maps would they have had?”

“They would have charts showing paths that others had used, they also listened to stories from many years ago as to what will happen, and they wanted to see if it was true.”

It’s good and necessary to have a plan so that things come together in a good way. Our plans come out of practice, even when we are children – games help us learn how to plan.

Stories of explorers inspire us into a sense of adventure, to go beyond what is accepted as normal. However, we can choose to remain asleep, unconscious to the promise of new life. We can tell ourselves that the journey is too long and we do not know the way. If we remain in darkness, how will we see anything?

Evidence is important to help us believe in what has happened and in what is to come. Reading from the prophets of the bible show us the paths and direction to God. We continue this journey in relation to our own lives today.

Numbers 24: 17

Balaam’s message

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.

Prayer

Father God, you must have planned everything from the beginning. Help us to see your plan and our part in it. Enable us to recognise these paths in others too, the work we are each called to and our hope for the future. Amen.

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Tomorrow – Angels