Pause for thought

Driving down a one-way street in the wrong direction is a frustrating experience. I recall when it happened to me during rush hour in a city one day. Meeting irritated drivers and trying to turn around added to my misery. For the rest of the time I was in that city, I carefully noted each subsequent turn to see if I was going in the right direction. Jesus talked about the direction of his life. It involved a cross. Yet he taught the disciples that the cross was the way of life for the world.

Thomas was not sure he knew the right direction, so he asked, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus replied, 'I am the way... and the truth and the life'. He offered Thomas and the rest of the disciples a personal guide. 'I am the way' meant 'I'll take you there'. Going the right direction through life is important. It is a joyful experience. Throughout history there have been many claims to be 'the way'. Buddha claimed to have discovered "the right path". Confucius called his teaching "the Way". Jesus' claim goes beyond any philosophy. He does not tell us about the way. He is the way. Again, if we want to go in the right direction, we must believe the truth. Jesus said, 'I am the truth'. Jesus did not just tell truths, he embodied the truth. Many truths can be conveyed with words only. Anyone can teach truths about love, forgiveness and humility. But only Jesus embodies these truths. To close. Going in the right direction means more than mere existence. Many philosophies offer an existence style, not a real lifestyle. Only Jesus gives life. Other philosophies offer temporary solutions to life's great riddles. Jesus offers permanent solutions. We do not know and cannot know the details of the journey that lies ahead of us. But we can and do know who is leading the way and who is our guide.

This week's thought: Jesus can turn water into wine, but he can't turn your whining into anything.