I love to travel.  And, with the ease of a variety of GPS options at my fingertips, travel can almost be done on auto-pilot these days.  Hop in the car, punch in an address, and voila! off I go!

When it comes to lengthy road trips however, I’m still a tried and true Rand McNally fan.  Some of it may stem from nostalgia.  My parents traveled with Rand McNally road maps whenever we went on family vacations.

I enjoyed being able to unfold the crisp paper map, follow the squiggly lines with my finger, and see where we were going.  Not only that, but I discovered there usually wasn’t just one route to get to our destination. 

There were options. 

Some routes might take more time but provided an opportunity to see more sites along the way.  Others were more direct (giving Dad and Mom the joy of getting off the road quicker and tossing two highly energetic children into the nearest hotel pool).

It didn’t make one route right or wrong.  It simply gave my parents the opportunity to choose what they felt was the best route for that day of travel.

Much like life.

We make choices on a daily basis and oftentimes spiral into worry wondering if we made the “right” choice.  From career paths to house purchases and everything in between, we tend to overcomplicate the decision making process.  We fixate on which “one” is the “right one” and miss the beautiful freedom of choices!

Please know I’m not diminishing important life decisions nor do I want to sound flippant or cavalier. 

The externals, though, are just that – externals.

God has been, is, and always will be interested in our hearts (not what kind of car we own or house we occupy).  He will always be focused on the relationship He has with us first and foremost.

Which house makes the most sense?  Which car do you like best?  What job offer makes you smile when you think about it?  Freedom to choose is part of what makes life so scenic, enjoyable, and fun!

God promises to provide our every need (Philippians 4:19) and yet, as any good father so often does for his kids, God also gives us a wide array of options!  And, of course, He is always there to offer wisdom and guidance as we need it (James 1:5).

Enjoy the journey today, friends, as you trust God to take care of all your needs while taking a life lesson from Rand McNally on the rest!

Until next time, Grace and Glory!