Crossroads

There is an old apocryphal story about Billy Graham. Early in his ministry, he had just arrived in a small town, having been invited to preach at an evening revival service. Graham had a few letters to mail, so he asked a young boy if he could tell him the way to the post office. The boy gave him directions, Graham thanked him, and turned away. But then, on impulse, he turned back to the boy and said, "If you'll come to church this evening, you can hear me tell everyone how to get to heaven." "I don't think I'll be there," said the boy. "You don't even know the way to the post office!"

There are times along the journey of life when we do get lost. Or feel lost. And it's in these moments that the groundwork of faith we've laid makes a difference.

The prophet Jeremiah once wrote, "Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it. And find rest for your souls."

Most scholars believe Jeremiah was referring to the ancient paths of the Torah, the central scriptures of his day. There was a deep belief that God had laid out a way of life that would lead to wholeness and peace — not just for the individual soul, but for the soul of the community.

The poet and philosopher John O'Donohue put it this way: "I've always thought that tradition is to the community what memory is to the individual. And if you lose your memory and wake up in the morning, you don't know where you are, who you are, what ground you're standing on. If you lose your tradition, it's the same thing."

When you find yourself at one of those crossroads moments, may you return to a well-worn path on which others have long tread. May there be companions and guides along the journey. And may God grant you wholeness, peace, and rest for your soul.

Let us pray: There are indeed times when we feel lost, O God. Other times when we face stark choices. We thank you for those who have gone before us in the faith, whose very lives point us to a path. Heal us with your presence, and walk with us along the way. Amen.

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