Signpost in a Strange Land

I don’t know if you have ever been on the bottom floor of Baptist East Hospital. If not, I can tell you as one who spends of lot of time in hospitals that there are people down there curled up in the fetal position who have just given up. For someone going in for the first time, it is a hopeless maze of halls, doors, and people running around everywhere. The only saving grace for one who is a veteran of this strange labyrinth of seemingly endless halls of smoke and mirrors is the signage. I must say the hospital administration has managed to mitigate this quagmire by very good signage.Now when I first entered this maze years ago–when I was younger and didn’t need to ask for directions or seek them, thinking that I was wise enough to intuitively think my way around–I would wander around aimlessly, mad enough to spit, and snapping at anyone who suggested I was lost. Then one day a kind lady laughed, took me by the hand, and said, “Look!” while pointing to the suddenly obvious signage on the walls and corridors. It really is easy to navigate if one has the humility and “eyes” to see what is already there.That, or something like that, is what we are talking about this Sunday. We take our clue from John the Baptist who, though described by Jesus himself as the greatest prophet who ever lived, had the self-awareness and the humility to just keep pointing to Jesus. When interrogated by the powers that be, he just kept pointing to Jesus. That really is what Jesus expected of John and was the last word to his disciples on earth—just be witnesses of me. Be signposts that point beyond yourselves to the One who is the source of everything true, good and beautiful. I can’t wait to talk about this on Sunday!Blessings,Jim