Landmarks

During World War II when allied armies marched into Germany on their way to Berlin, retreating German soldiers would switch road signs and destroy landmarks in an effort to confuse their enemy. To an extent, it worked. I understand that many a G.I. followed a false marker only to end up in the wrong place.

I remember when Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida, I was out of the country on a surf trip in Costa Rica. When we flew back into Miami, there were no street signs, no stop lights – nothing. It took us forever to find the interstate! I’m told that even people who lived there all their lives had trouble finding their way around. Buildings, homes, and bridges were gone. All the landmarks that helped them get their bearings had been washed away.

Today, we live in a day and age of monumental change. Just think about what’s happening in technology. And on top of that, our cultural values and norms have also shifted tremendously. Sometimes it is hard for us to get our bearings.

We need landmarks. We need reliable signposts. And I hope you have some by which to steer in your own life.

In my tradition, we hold that worship, scripture, and a community of faith can all help us navigate the complexity of life. The truth is, there are signposts are all around us. Some of them were handed down to us, others we must seek out.

My prayer is that you would make full use of the signposts around you. May you return again and again to the ones that become significant to you. And as you do, may you find yourself rooted in a tried and true path.

Let us pray: God of Hope, I pray especially today for those who feel lost or lonely in life. I ask for them, the right people to surround them. I ask for healing and grace. And for all of us, may we continue to turn to and trust the landmarks that have guided people of faith from generation to generation. Amen.