I recently visited Seattle. And as I often do when I travel, I ran the streets to see more of the town and get a sense of how the residents live. There’s a danger in that practice though — I have little idea where I’m going or how long the route I’ve mapped out will take. I don’t know if the neighborhoods are safe or where there might be killer hills.
My first day there the hotel suggested a route around the lake it overlooked. I thought it would be scenic and leisurely. Not so. A shipping town, Seattle uses its waterways for commerce. The route around the lake was industrial. The path didn’t edge the lake as I assumed it would. Instead, it was separated from the lake by buildings, shipyards and warehouses. It followed four-lane thoroughfares jammed with morning commuters. Not what I had hoped to see — even if it was the inner workings of Seattle.
The second day I picked the route based on the map and various sites I wanted to see. I decided to take the roads that followed the waterfront. I usually run about an hour — this run turned into two. It’s difficult to judge distance based on a tourist map! Not knowing the streets and neighborhoods I didn’t know which streets would be a shortcut or even went through. My only landmark was the Space Needle. As long as it was in sight, I knew I wasn’t too lost. So I stayed the course. Thankfully the new scenery kept my mind occupied so that I didn’t notice how weary my legs were getting.
At one point in the run, the Space Needle fell out of sight. I was at the bottom of a steep hill and it was on the other side. That made me nervous. I suddenly wondered if I was lost, if I had somehow taken a wrong turn. I wanted the run to be over at that point, even though I had enjoyed my pilgrimage up to that point. I kept on running, hoping I was on the right road. Eventually, the Space Needle came back into view and I knew everything was going to be okay. I wasn’t lost after all.
Just like the Space Needle was my beacon during my run, God is my beacon in day-to-day life. As long as I have him in my life, I know I’m not lost. When I spend time with him, my days go better. My spirit is refreshed and quieter. Others have people in their lives or a place where they can go that settles their spirit and brings them back to center.
Who or what is your beacon? What happens when you’re separated from your beacon?
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
