I don’t know about you, but right now I’m not where I want to be. I’ve been stuck on the couch with bronchitis for days. I spent half of Valentine’s Day at the local MEDAC facility trying to get a prescription.
But God works everything out for good, right? Right. On the same day, I watched an interview with Pastor Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church in Atlanta by Joyce Myer.
Andy seemed a little uncomfortable. It was probably all in my head, but I couldn’t help but wonder if his book publicist at Thomas Nelson Publishers had set up the interview so he could sell more books, and he was wishing he was somewhere else — anywhere else — doing whatever else.
It was sort of fun to watch Joyce ask Andy a question and then spend five minutes answering it for him. No, actually that’s not exactly true. Both of them shared some terrific insights. (They are talented and gifted speakers, but for some reason, watching Joyce is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I like what she says, but not her delivery … and that really bugs my sweetheart. Over the years, Joyce’s teaching has played a major role in helping my wife mature in her faith.)
What went wrong?
Andy talked about the fact that many of us have admirable life goals, but we end up far from where we intended to be. Even bright people with clear ideas about where they want to be financially, relationally, and professionally find themselves far from their desired destination.
Andy says there’s one simple reason why so many of us get lost along the way. He calls it the principle of the path. And I think he’s right.
Like the cover of his book says, the principle of the path not only explains “the disappointment and regret that characterize the lives of so many, it provides a way for you to be the exception.” And from the interview, it sounds like this principle “…will enable you to avoid life-wasting detours along the way.”
You can’t get there from here.
At least you can’t get where you want to be as long as you’re going the wrong way. Andy starts his book with an interesting story about a shortcut he took one night that turned into a real adventure. One that may have cost him his life, and definitely would have “ended up in a swamp because that’s where the road led, and that was the road we chose.”
Most of us have taken a wrong turn or two in our lives. Maybe more. If you’re stuck in a swamp right now, you probably have some regrets. You don’t need someone to point out the mistakes you made. You know where you took a wrong turn — or turns — and what got you into your swamp. You simply need some guidance. You’d like someone to tell you “how to get from where you are to where you want to be.”
Who wouldn’t?
Well, that’s what Andy promises in his book. I can’t tell you if he delivers on his promises, because the book is sitting here next to me — unread — on the couch. But I’m going to get into it tonight just so I can see how helpful it might be for you. (Like most guys, I’m not ready to admit I’m lost. But I will tell you there’s more water, mud and mosquitoes in my backyard than I want….)
Andy says that “when you’re lost, you don’t need a new solution. You need a new direction.” I’m going to see if he’s right. I’d love some new direction. I’ll tell you more about it as I read The Principle of the Path.
