I was having a little quiet time this morning, some reflection, prayer, and bible study.  This bit of scripture was part of the lesson:  

‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ Jeremiah 6:16 NIV

I think most of us want to walk in the Good Way.  But how will I recognize it?  As Christians we often default to ‘Follow Jesus’.  But how do we apply that today?  I’d like to think that my prayer time, my bible study, and classes, help me with this.  But I have to ask, is the  Good Way the same for everyone? 

I have to think that we each have a path, and it’s not the exact same one for everyone.  But there must be some common denominators.  Are we not all supposed to at least be headed in the same direction?  Surely we all want to live a good life.  But what does that mean?  

The longer I live, the more I’ve come to understand that our best life isn’t simply living well.  Best often means living rightly, doing what we should, not just what we want. And we won’t always enjoy what comes our way.  Living well, more frequently these days, seems to be the about overcoming adversity, enduring suffering, and understanding how to operate in difficult times.  

I’m learning it’s as much about service, mission, and ministry.  In the Christian vernacular ‘ministry’ even has multiple contexts.  So much yet to learn, even as my hair grays and I start to need glasses to read the finer print.  In many ways I feel like I am just now learning how much I don’t know.  Yet the journey ahead is exciting, if a little daunting.  I feel like the best is yet to come.  

I hope you find the Good Way today.  Or at least go in search of it.  If you’re ahead of me, on that path, I pray that you’ll show me, and if you’re behind, I’ll do my best to show you.  And with God’s grace we’ll get there in our own time.