"Shirley" You Know Where You Are Going?

How many times have you been asked "Where are you going"?

We'll let me tell you a story of a great guy I know! You see this guy is the king of planning! He likes everything broken down into details and put to a timeline! If you were ever to take a trip with him you would be well equipped with a mapquest printout AND the all mighty GPS that I will fondly call Shirley. Shirley is extremely loud and obnoxious! She is just way too bossy! 

This said guy has had a hearing problem and he has had Shirley set where she was literally screaming instructions! That way he didn't have any trouble hearing her clearly and there was less of a chance of getting lost! The passengers that ride with this fellow are usually startled by the sheer volume of her voice that starts shouting directions IN THE DRIVE WAY! She can't wait until you get away from home and actually need her guidance! She starts harping the second the wheels start turning!  She just won't leave you alone! You can be driving along on a long straight stretch of highway before any maneuvering is needed and she will still shout instructions to continue on the current path! 

When asked why he starts navigating with Shirley in the drive way his typical answer is just because that's what he does. It's the entire journey. Getting from point A to point B without any question! 

I have been a passenger with this man and have voiced my agitation with Shirley. So many times and so much so that he has started leaving Shirley in the console when I am with him. He has went against what he is comfortable with so that he doesn't have to listen to the criticism! 

How do you think God feels? He has given us the ultimate mapquest printout called the Bible and has put many Shirley's in our lives to direct us in the way we should go! Yet we allow people to influence us  to put our instructions in our "console" where we can't hear nor see where we need to go no matter how loud he is shouting! Now we pull our "Shirley" out when no ones around, but is that really how we should be? 

I happen to love this man I have been talking about and happen to call him my Dad. My Dad has since been blessed with some new hearing aids, but you can bet he still has Shirley turned all the way up and he knows exactly where he is going and when he will get there!! A little birdie has hold me that they have passed their turn many times but they have always found their way back on track with the help of Shirley! This little birdie .... Well I call her Mom! 

It is always an adventure to travel with my parents and I enjoy every minute i get to spend with them! Even though they still don't get Shirley out  when I am with them, I know she is neatly tucked in the console should she be needed!

I have been very blessed to have been given Christian parents. They have always given my brother and I direction in the way we should go. They didn't stop giving us instructions when we "missed our turn" and were always there to help us get back on the right track. For this I could never say thank you enough!

My question to you is this.... Is there someone you have been "riding" with that has shut off their Shirley? Have you allowed them to get lost in their journey through life without telling them to make a uturn?  Or have you yourself put your Shirley away?

Just something to think about so that the next time you are asked "Where are you going"? You can say HEAVEN, Let me lead the way!