Lost Along the Way

Dear Divine Mystery,

Jesus tried to prepare his disciples

for his leavingby reassuring them

that they already knew the way

to where he was going.

Thomas responded,I think quite bravely,

that they did not know

where he was going,

so how could they possibly

know the way?

Jesus answered Thomas,

and all of us,

"I am the Way."

Yet despite all the signposts

we have been given,

the Gospels,

the Eucharist,

the lives of the saints,

and those unexpected glimpses of grace,

we still find ourselves

losing our way.

There are seasons of life

when there seems to be no road map.

No regularly updated

internal GPS.

So we find other ways.

We find ways to fret...

Which way should I go?

I need to change my ways.

I'm in a bad way.

I miss the way things used to be.

Sometimes we find ways

to encourage one another...

Way to go!

You'll find a way.

She has a way about her.

That's the way!

But we are just as skilled

at finding ways

to wound each other...

Get out of my way!

He's always getting his way.

She's on the way out.

You're way out of line!

Even Frank Sinatra

did it his way.

When Jesus said,"I am the Way,"

it must have seemed

almost too simple.

Yet most of us

are not terribly good at this.

Sometimes the way

feels less like a path

and more like a maze.

I'm grateful

for Thomas’ honest,

unabashed confusion.

It gives all of us

permission

to turn to You

in our own confusion

and ask,

How can I possibly

know the way?

In those moments,

help us hear

that small, still voice

whispering,

"Come.

I am this way."

Lift our eyes

to the constellations.

Show us

where True North is

in this moment,

at this bend

in the exhilarating,

confounding,

and oh, 

so precious

journey

we call 

life.

Amen.