Trust God, Not Your GPS
Exploring
new places is something I love to do. Whether hiking in the mountains or hiking
in a city, discovering new places and seeing new sights is fun. Fortunately, my
wife Brandi, also enjoys finding and exploring new places. Living in Madagascar
has given us many opportunities for finding and exploring new places as well as
new cultures.
This
week we had to come to the capital, Tana, to get our pictures and fingerprints
for our visa’s. Brandi and the kids then flew to the US to visit her parents as
her mother is working towards recovery after her brain surgery several months
ago. Friday, I found myself with a day to go exploring the city before heading
off to another city for some intensive language study.
There
were a few stores I wanted to find and so I set out around lunchtime after
taking care of some other tasks. Taking a local bus I headed out into new
territory hoping I would at least come close to where I was trying to go.
Thanks to people on the bus I found the exact place I was looking for. A great
way to start.
After
looking finding a few places I was looking for and finding some new stores
which were very interesting, I decided to just wander towards downtown. Now
some of you may think this is reckless and scary, and maybe it is for some, but
that is not how I see it all. I met some very helpful people, found many shops
I do not need anything at, and saw some really neat architecture and other
sights. It is impossible to describe it all: the noise of traffic and people,
the smell of roadside stands selling fried bananas or peanuts, or the stench of
open sewers. There was a little bit of everything.
Before
going further, I need to make a statement: When exploring I have never been
lost, but I have often found new places I was not intending to find. That being
said, I was wandering into the city and it was getting later in the afternoon.
I noticed most of the people were trying to find a bus or taxi or walking away
from where I was heading. I decided that if everyone was leaving the area I was
going, I did not really need to go there either and so I joined the masses as
they sought to head home. At this point, I had no idea where I was, but I was
not lost since I was looking for nothing in particular at this point.
I decided
it was time to find a bus or taxi to head back to the guest house. However, all
the buses were packed and people were waiting to find just one available seat.
I had walked several miles at this point and was tired and thirsty. Yet, I
could not find a taxi or a bus. So, I kept walking. The shadows were growing
longer and I knew I needed to get out this area before dark. I prayed and asked
God for help.
Within
one minute of praying, in a city of millions of people in which I do not live
and know maybe 10 people, I hear someone call out to me! A taxi had stopped in
the middle of the road, blocking traffic and the driver yells out, “Johnson!
Johnson!” There sits Zo. He is a taxi driver we used the last time we were in
Tana, in March. He had a passenger in the front seat but he asked me if I was
going back to my hotel. I said I was and he told me to get in. Amazing! In a
city of millions, God sends one of 3 taxi drivers I know to where I was to take
me home.
Zo and
I had spoken before and he is a believer. He told me I was a long way from home.
He asked if I was lost. Just exploring I replied, just exploring. I proceeded
to tell him he was an answer to prayer and he just smiled and said God is
always in control.
Reflecting
on all of this I am reminded of a few things. First, I remembered what it was
like to be lost, really lost, and have no clue where to turn. Sometimes you
don’t even know you are lost, or you won’t admit it. Second, when you are lost
you need someone to show you the way. Third, the relief of someone calling to
you, by name, when you are lost is priceless. Jesus calls us by name, just as
Zo called out to me. I knew Zo would take care of me and get me back to my
guest house. Jesus will do the same for all of us. He calls us, by name, and is
waiting to show us the way to the Father. He is the way, the truth and the
life.
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