Knowing the Way
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:5-6 (NKJV)
Like Ben Cooper (All God’s Creatures), I have often pondered how the Canada geese know which direction is south and do they return to the same southern destinations year after year. So many questions and not enough words to answer them all. Their approximate 73-inch wingspan gives them great strength for maintaining the aerodynamic V formation. They mate for life and can get aggressive when their goslings are threatened. Kind of sounds like us. Right? I truly enjoy seeing multiple flocks of geese in flight against the blue sky. Their honking tells me that winter is almost here!
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As the air turns colder here in the Northeast, one of the sure signs that autumn has arrived is hearing and then seeing Canada geese heading south. From my vantage point, they fly east first before they head south. It’s common to see dozens of flocks flying in their trademark V formation. I always wonder how they know which direction to fly to get to their wintering grounds in the south.
Two of the major flyways for these migratory birds are the Mississippi River and the eastern coastal line. Geese read these visible waterways like GPS maps, and the Potomac River is a directional landmark between these two main routes. Our church is a couple of miles from the Potomac, and most Sundays in October, I witness multiple flocks making their annual trek. It fascinates me every year that they know the way.
Thomas asked how he and the other disciples would know the way to where Jesus was going. Jesus replied with the well-known phrase, “I am the Way.” After His death, the phrase “The Way” was the code name for the first-century followers of Christ. They used it to avoid being captured and put to death. I am glad I found this same “Way” in my own journey toward the Way Maker.
Lord, instill in me the desire to daily use Your Word as a compass to direct my mitigation to You. Thank You for being my Way and my Truth and my Life. AMEN