I'll never forget the first time I asked to be guided by a GPS gizmo. Ron, our oldest son, and his family were with Carol and me as we were traveling. It was night time, and we were looking for the motel. Ron said, "I'll look it up on my cell phone." That was a bother for my wife who had been my navigator all of our married life.
Carol said, "I can find it on the map like I've always done." But I wanted to try out a new scientific gadget for the first time.
"Okay, Ron-ole-boy; find the motel." So he programmed in the address, and we drove up to the side gate of an army base. As I turned the car around, Carol said, "I can find the right street by using the map." But I wanted to try the GPS.
Ron reprogrammed and we drove around town, only to find a different gate to that army base. By this time Carol was a little irritated.
Ron reprogrammed once more, and we found the main gate ... to that same army base. So I drove up to the soldier and asked him for assistance. He directed us to a 7-11 store. There, the clerk informed us that there were four (yes: 4) streets in town with that name, and the primary street was in the army base.
Have you ever been stabbed with a visual "I Told You So!"? Carol found that motel for us, but the "weather" remained cool for a while. (She forgave me the next day.)
GPS programming improved dramatically in the ensuing decade, and it seems that a great many folk have a GPS unit of some sort. I heard on the news that by the end of 2018, there may be 10 billion cell phones with GPS apps installed. But what is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system consisting of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use.
These satellites circle the earth twice a day transmitting signals to earth. Receivers triangulate this information to calculate our precise location. The more satellites that are involved, the more accurate the results; and GPS units today are very accurate. Carol even likes using them now.
It's fun watching the little blue dot (we call it the Blue Bug) moving across the screen of the cell phone as we drive across country. Carol often says, "The Blue Bug is staying with us." But at times she will say, "The Bug is getting lost." That's when I make a correction and get back on the right street.
However, since the GPS units know our location, they also know our altitude. They enable precise operation for our interactive maps and our compass apps. The little gizmo can tell us where the restaurants, motels, and gas stations are, and can even tell us the temperature outside -- all within seconds.
When we take pictures with our cell phones, the built-in GPS units record when and where they were taken. And when we cross a time zone, Carol and I always have a contest: whose phone changes time first?
Some folk worry that these technological advancements are a way for the government to keep track of us. That is correct. But they are also a great help to us. Many vehicles are equipped with OnStar which has helped a great many folk. OnStar located my car a couple of years ago after it had been stolen.
But another GPS is available to those of us who honor Almighty God. I call this GPS "God's Protective Service."
As I live by Godly principles that are found in the Bible, as I live for the Lord, as I honor God in every way that I know how, the Holy Spirit guides me. He knows where I am every second of the day, and knows what kind of difficulties I am facing. He sees what lies ahead of me, and gives me precise directions. If I am about to make a wrong decision, God sends a signal to get me back on track -- if I'm listening.
Have fun with the GPS gizmos; but tune in to Almighty God for both temporal and eternal directions.
-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, mentor and president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 03/29/2017