If you are like me, you usually answer this question by taking out your phone, opening the maps app, typing in the address, and reading the directions. I then follow the directions closely, turning wherever I am told. The problem with this, however, is that now that I live in San Diego for almost four years, I am still not learning my way around as much as I like. I feel way too dependent on my phone. I am not connecting the dots. Rather when I attempt to take a little extra time and figure out directions as I go, and let myself make some mistakes, my eyes are more attuned to the roads, the landmarks. I start to see where things are in relation to one another. And sometimes it’s just nice seeing parts of this beautiful city that I may not ever get to see because they are never along the most efficient and direct routes anywhere. I have to learn to trust my phone less.
This 5th Sunday of Easter, Jesus is saying, “Have faith in God, have faith also in me.” I feel like he is saying, “Don’t keep trusting your own ways. Look up. See that I am here. I am going someplace, and you can follow. Because you do know the way. I am the way! Lean into me, and I will show you. For I am the way, the truth and the life.” We can go about our day, from one thing in our calendar to the next, following the day like we are following our phone navigator. Instead of taking a little more time with someone along the way, getting lost in a conversation that is meaningful, taking a little extra time to pray, spending some time enjoying the feel of the sunshine on our skin or breathing the lovely ocean air that is all around us in San Diego. Jesus’ way may not be the most direct way forward, but his way leads us to new life. This is guaranteed. It is the way of letting go of our plans, of re-committing to a life of service, of saying “I don’t know how we are going to do this, but I believe you are leading me.” We do know the way. It is the way of Jesus. It is the cross, which always leads us to new life, the new life of Easter.