Last Sunday at First Presbyterian Church Asheville (FPCA), the church ordained elders and deacons which are the leaders of the church. Patrick Johnson preached on Acts 8:26-40 Much of the sermon involved leadership, but Patrick’s words apply to anyone. I’ve chosen to use the word “people” or “lives” instead of leadership and leaders. I invite you to read the entire passage even though I’m only focusing on the beginning.

When Philip – one of Jesus’ disciples -met an Ethiopian eunuch, an angel of the Lord told him, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” That’s when he met the eunuch and informed him about Jesus.

Patrick told a story about riding in the car with his two daughters when one asked, “Why do they put road signs on the road?” The question caught him by surprise as it would any person who has lived in the age before GPS’. He explained what life was like before GPS and how we needed signs to help us get to our destination.

As I write this now – it didn’t occur to me on Sunday – I think about how much I need a GPS even when there are road signs. I’ve written in this blog before about how my tbi has affected my spatial orientation -my sense of direction. It is possible for me to go into a room off a hallway and then when I’m leaving, not remember which way I came in.

Memory is a complicated thing. There are three basic parts. First, one must get the information in one’s brain, then store it and then get it out. With the room example, I must get into my brain which direction I came into the room, then store it while I’m visiting someone. I then must get it out of my brain to remember which way to turn when I leave. Over the years, I’ve learned how to concentrate on which direction I need to leave before it is time. I even write it down sometimes. So, a GPS is an essential part of my life.

Patrick pointed out, there’s a difference between roadside living and GPS living. “Road-sign leadership (life) is responsive to immediate guidance, flexible enough to take unexpected turns when the next marker appears.” Philip only knew the next marker – go down the road that leads to Gaza. After that he had to trust the Spirit. “Spirit-led leaders (people) develop comfort with holy uncertainty. They trust prompts that don’t immediately make strategic sense.”

That’s where I am now. I’m trying to follow the roadside signs when I’d rather have a GPS. I want to be told which road to take, which path to travel. I’m trying to have faith that the roadside signs will appear. I’m attempting to put myself in places where I can see the signs. I sometimes wish I could use my GPS but I have the Spirit and that is enough.