“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” -John 15:4
 
This is the kind of life that Jesus offers us. Let’s say you’re driving your car, trying to get to your friend’s house. You know the address, but you’re lost. There are two ways to get to your destination:

1. You stop at a gas station, the mechanic draws you a map, saying, “You take a left here, you go right, then you go down two miles, and you’re there. Many of us believe Jesus gives us a map and sends us on his merry way.

2, But let’s say that, instead of drawing a map, this mechanic says, “It’s very difficult to find your way to that place.” So, he opens the door, gets in the passenger side, and says, “Go straight.” You don’t know where you’re going, but you follow his directions. He says, “At the second light, turn right. Okay, slow down. Now, turn left. Stop. We’re here!”

Jesus is unlike every other religious teacher in history in that he doesn’t just give us a map or directions; he gets into life with us. With Jesus, we live in the ambiguity of having no clarity on what’s coming. We only know the next thing. Jesus doesn’t just give us his words or a map. He offers himself and he’s with us all the way.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I invite you to enter my life to show me the way. I may be impatient, wanting to know what’s ahead. But, I’ll trust you always to be by my side. Amen.

REFLECTION: How does the Lord direct your path in everyday life? In times of crisis or big change?