Crossroads

     At the end of the 2000 movie Cast Away, Chuck Noland (portrayed by Tom Hanks), finds himself at a crossroads. For over 4 years, he was stranded on an island and presumed dead by his family and friends. As he returns to civilization, he returns the last unopened FedEx package he has (imagine having a package returned to you 4 years later!). After returning the package, he ends up at a crossroads - figuratively and literally. Where does he go from here in his life? Which road should he take? Which road will he choose? While the movie ends before he goes down a path, it does hint at a particular path that he'll take. 

    Sometimes in life, we find ourselves at a crossroads like Chuck Noland did. We may have finished one journey or task, but aren't exactly sure where to go next or how to move forward. Crossroads can be a critical juncture in our lives because they offer multiple paths with completely different destinations. The choice is up to us with how we move forward. With crossroads, the differing paths may each have pros and cons. There isn't necessarily going to be a "right" or "wrong" path to take. With that in mind, there are a few questions at hand; how do we handle the times we find ourselves at a crossroads? And when we're at a crossroads, how will we know which road or path to take? 

    Over the past few months, I found myself at a crossroads in my life. I finished serving in one leadership role and wasn't entirely sure what to do next and how to move forward. Heck, even before I officially stepped down, I found myself feeling at a crossroads about this. For a long time, I had a good idea of what I was doing and how to move forward. But when it came to this decision, I didn't know what to do or how to move forward. Entertaining the different paths I could take moving forward was a strange feeling. They weren't "wrong" paths, either, just different. 

    When it came to evaluating the crossroads that I was at, I found myself leaning on God, on family, and on close friends. Turning to God in prayer is the best thing that we can do when we're at a crossroads. Praying to God for wisdom, guidance, and discernment will give us the strength to properly assess and evaluate how we should move forward. Proverbs 3:5-6 instruct us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths". When we lean on our own understanding or try to have our own way, we inevitably make mistakes and put ourselves on the wrong path. God knows what is best for us and will guide us through the ambiguity that crossroads present. What's more, when we acknowledge Him, He will help us navigate these times and make our paths straight. Proverbs 16:9 drives this home, where it reads "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps".

    Another reason why it's so important to come to God in these times is that when it comes to choosing paths, we're easily deceived. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 both explain that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death". Earlier, I mentioned that the differing paths at a crossroads aren't necessarily "right" or "wrong". That being said, there are instances where paths that may seem right lead to death and destruction. Those are strong, unforgiving consequences for choosing the wrong path! And the worst part about this is that this path that ends in destruction may appear and seem right, but it leads to death just like any other "wrong" path. With that in mind, it's all the more important that we come to God in times of choosing a path. 

    In addition to turning to God, there is a value in talking to family and close friends. They love you, care about you, and have your best interests at heart. They can even be a sounding board for you as you entertain the different paths in play. Surrounding yourselves with wise, godly family and friends will also help you avoid those deadly paths that seem right, not to mention speak grace and truth into your life. Proverbs 27:17 reads "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another". In times of big decisions, we a friend that will sharpen us and help us out, not a "yes man" that will agree with us no matter what. 

    As we assess the different paths available at a crossroads, it is worth asking ourselves what we really want or what we're looking for.  Figuring those out will help us to see which path best aligns with that. This isn't to say that the solution to a crossroads is "follow your heart" though. If anything, following our heart can get us into a lot of trouble or even give us a broken heart. What we want may not be what we need, but it's worth evaluating our feelings. 

    When it comes to decision time, one thing I've learned about making decisions is this: once we've made your decision, don't look back. We'll drive yourself crazy if we constantly second-guess our decision. There was a reason that we made this decision to begin with. Let's not forget that every time doubts cross our minds. Looking back also prevents us from keeping our eyes on what's ahead, but that's another blog post topic for another day. 

    Ultimately, the decision I made was staying where I was, but in a role and capacity. Admittedly, there was a time of adjusting to this new role. Getting out of a crossroads doesn't end when we've made our decision. I learned that over these past few months. Over time though, we'll start to feel more at ease with where we are and enjoy the path we're on. 

    In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I truly am thankful to God that I am where I am today. As I've had time to process these past few months, I know that it was the right decision and I am thankful that it all worked out the way that it did. Going through and getting out of the crossroads wasn't exactly fun (it rarely is), but I don't want to lose sight of where I am now because I went through that crossroads.

    Crossroads are an inevitable part of our lives. When it comes to approach them, it's not the crossroads themselves that matter, but how we move forward when we reach them. The next time I find myself at a crossroads, I'll know to turn to God, to family, and to trusted friends. 

    To close, I'm reminded by this quote I once read: "If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it". God leads us to crossroads in our lives, and He leads us through them, too. And what a joy it is to see what's on the other side of those crossroads.