In navigation, course corrections are common.
There may be detours, construction, or other major external factors that cause us to re-set that GPS on our way.
There may be internal factors that affect our journeys, like an empty fuel tank or lack of snacks, a missed turn, an intriguing looking roadside attraction.
Our course corrections could be intentional and proactive (avoiding a toll route, or sitting out a storm in safety) or unexpected and reactive (avoiding a deer in the road, or circumventing a hill that didn't show on the flat map).
Some of them will be substantial (in a canoe, turning sideways to avoiding getting swamped) or subtle (the canoeist in the stern being distracted by the view).
Course corrections are meant to be positive; an opportunity to adjust the direction of movement. There are situations where without a correction, an unanticipated negative outcome could occur. There are times when its responding to new information that renders the original plan in need of adaptation.
The reality of navigation, of course, is that course corrections are common: because they need to be. Without consistent monitoring, the path may not be as smooth as it could be, or we might get entirely off course, or the storms of life may cause us to sink into unescapable negative consequences (leading to a salvage mission instead of a directional re-assessment).
Course corrections are not massive changes; they are regular minor adjustments towards improving the experience. We may be surprised by unexpected opportunities or refined practices.
The journey of faith is also a pathway that necessitates navigating; and as such it benefits from being monitored and evaluated; to regularly assess our current course.
Our discussions with friends and colleagues, our devotions with prayer partners and church family, our discernment with spiritual director and sojourners… by choosing to be open to the nuance of the world around us, and the guidance of our trusted companions, we are more likely to be responsive to the opportunity to course correct.
Whether considering a physical journey or a spiritual one, by making adjustments to our habits and patterns, we can align ourselves in the best trajectory. May God be our guide in all our journeys.
