I am a retired Army veteran and I remember days doing training called Land Navigation, where they dropped you off in the woods with a map, a compass, and a protractor.  They told you to be at this point, at such and such time to be picked up and taken where you needed to be next.

In 1989, I was in PLDC—a military course that teaches you how to be a leader. To pass this course and to make the next rank, one of the tests I had to pass was land navigation. I had to find three of four points within three hours, using  just the items they provided. I remember walking in those woods of Louisiana in the heat of the day for two hours as lost as I could be, because I thought I knew where I was going and what I was doing.  Jumping over streams filled with snakes, walking into spider webs as thick as bedsheets; I continued to move until I walked up on a snake.  I took off running, dropped my map, and the compass looking for the nearest road.  If you haven’t guessed by now, yes,  I flunked that test.  So, the next Saturday was my second and final chance to successfully complete the task.  After being shamed by my leaders that got the call saying I flunked a test, embarrassed in front of my classmates, and staying up at night forced to study land navigation and its techniques, I received a go this time and passed the course.

Just like land navigation, life will have you going in directions that leave you lost and saying, “Which Way do I Go?” Imagine being in a car driving and you suddenly come to the end of the road.  “Which Way do you Go?”

Take a step back in your mind for a moment and think of a time life threw you such a curveball, you felt lost, and all you wanted to do at that time was to make yourself feel better.  I’m sure drinking, smoking, partying, and sexing came to your mind as options. Those are the times; I want you to think about.  Don’t think about the cause or the reason for how you got there but think of a way you can skip those options and make a better choice at finding our way through a situation the next time we don’t know which way to go.

In John 14:5-6, Thomas asked Jesus, how can we know the way and Jesus answered, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  By following Christ’s example when He walked this earth, my friend, is truly the way to go.   When life begins to weigh heavy on you pray and ask God to lighten your load. When people don’t treat you right, pray for them.  When you feel lost and don’t know what to do, ask God for wisdom.  Let Him direct your path.  Let Him be your map, your compass, and your protractor.  He is the undeniable “Way” to peace, joy, and happiness.

Following Christ’s example is not an easy task at all, especially when you’ve followed everyone and everything else before.  Learning when to be quiet versus saying what you want, when you want, can be challenging too.  Learning to say yes when all you want to say is no—is just as difficult. Being nice to those who aren’t so nice to you isn’t so easy either.  But to follow His example, these are the things we must do.

So, brothers the next time you find yourself at a fork in the road, lost, or just need to know “Which Way do I Go?”, look up to the only One that can show you the right way—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May He continue to bless and keep you.  Your brother in Christ…TMK.