More about paths

Happy Thanksgiving!
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? ~ Acts 12:6-10
Not all who hesitate are lost. ~ Joseph Campbell
The metaphor of a path on our journey of faith is a difficult one.  It would be nice to think that God's path always comes in front of us straight, without the detours and sideways and or enemies of distraction.
However, the truth is that the way - the path - isn't always straight.  Sometimes it DOES seem crooked. 

 Sometimes that crookedness is good and right. We need to move along on a journey of discovery through hidden byways and curves.

 Yet here Paul has strong words for someone who tries to lead God's people on a crooked path. (some of the other enemies we might think of from Psalm 5 yesterday).

 So how do we know? If a path is wind-y and curvy, how do we know it is one that is God driven or one that takes us away from God?

 And how do we make our way back to the path of God?
It's good to be cautious and aware of the "Elymases" out there - those people or things that draw us away from God's call to us.  It isn't that God can't reach us wherever we are, but we can certainly make it harder for ourselves to hear God's message of love and forgiveness when we surround ourselves with contrary voices and ideas.
It's worth taking time each day - time in silence, meditation, reflection and prayer - to listen to the working of God in our lives and to help ourselves discern what things or voices in our lives draw us away.

 Call this perhaps a "holy hesitation."
Prayer then isn't simply talking to God about our desires, wants, needs, and hopes.  It isn't even simply about praising God and thanking God. Sometimes it is about sitting back and listening and sensing and feeling.

 Hesitating until you can once again feel that path under your feet.

God, enliven all of my senses to pay attention to your call and path as I walk this journey with you.  Amen.
Thoughts for engagment:

- Have you ever felt you got off God's path?
- What are the ways God has pushed you forward even when the path wasn't straight?
- What are the things that keep you moving on God's path? What are the things (or people) that distract you from it?

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