God puts the G in GPS

We do not understand the intricate pattern of the stars in their courses, but we know that He who created them does, and that just as surely as He guides them, He is charting a safe course for us.
-- Billy Graham

This weekend when we were tooling around Milwaukee, our lovely driver was using a GPS to navigate. She knows the town, though, so she probably didn't need it. I, on the other hand, would have had to rely on it completely and, I imagine in the back of my mind, cast doubts that the little computerized gadget would get us where we needed to go.

When I saw this quote on my calendar today, I thought it an especially appropriate reminder that we are not in the driver's seat, so to speak. As we often tell the 10-year-old, "You're just along for the ride." He needs to trust where we are going, just as we need to have faith God will chart a safe course for us.

That doesn't mean there won't be some bumps or detours along the way. That's a guarantee. We simply need to accept them as part of the journey and stay in our seats. But it's not so simple, is it?

In the past day or so I have been sending up a lot of prayers for people who are dealing with some of those major bumps. Some are sick and some are grieving. It is hard not to question their suffering. Why did such an optimistic woman die of cancer? Why are there all these complications after my uncle's heart surgery? Why is our young, healthy friend in ICU for heart and liver problems?

God has already charted a course for each of them. We can't change that. But we can pray that no matter what happens, the individuals and their loved ones will find comfort and strength to deal with it.

Then thank God for our own blessings.