You’ll meet all sorts along your way;
Those who don’t know that they don’t know
Flaunting extravagant assumptions until they crash.
Luring, taking the gullible and the wise in their plunge
Of such beware! You are better left behind than
Running ahead, roped along in error, undiscerned.
When you know that you don’t know, hope is nearer
Don’t be sorry or ashamed to pause, to ask or return.
Life is a journey, made easier when you know.
Don’t be afraid to pause, to ask or return: better to
Seem a fool for asking than be the fool who wouldn’t
Still, we can’t blame our failure on the misdirection of others:
Look before you leap, think before you conclude
No matter what you think, your choices matter

Food for Thought: Thank God for Global Position Systems (GPS) but have you ever missed your way and had to stop and ask someone, who appears to be familiar with the environment for direction? In a part of the world where I once lived, people either didn’t respond to your enquiries for fear of being hypnotized and kidnapped or they claimed to know. Delivered with elaborate gesticulations, most of those directions keep you going in circles until it dawns that you have been talking to the wrong people and are not one step farther from where you met them. Each time I have to ask, I will have to stop and ask again to confirm. Each time I see people being directed, I wonder about the one giving directions and the one being directed; who actually knows better between the two? Unfortunately, in life, we cannot blame our failure on the misdirection of others. Irrespective of who directed or misdirected us, we are fully responsible for the paths we choose to follow, for not verifying before following, for ending up where we do. In whatever way you may be needing guidance, look before you jump, think before you conclude. You lose nothing for checking and crosschecking, just to be sure that you are on the right path because the path you choose to travel determines your destination.

Scripture: If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7: 11.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to surround myself with people who value my values, to learn from their wisdom and above everything else, to trust in Your faultless guidance, amen.