Global Positioning System of Life

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his
household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is
right and just ... (Genesis 18:19 TNIV).

The Longitude problem

"Whereas, in order to the finding out of the longitude of places for perfecting navigation and astronomy, we have resolved to build a small observatory within Our Park at Greenwich...

- King Charles II

Until John Harrison came along, navigation of ships was a guesstimate at best. Egyptian sailors never ventured far from the land. Geographic landmarks guided them. Phoenician sailors shifted their eyes from the land to the skies and plotted their course by the North Star. In 1100 CE the Chinese created the first magnetized needle compass.

But it was John Harrison who solved one of the biggest maritime problems in history. In 1714 the British government established the Board of Longitude and offered a reward of 20,000 pounds -- about $6 million today -- to anyone who could create a device that would provide longitude within a half-degree, or two minutes of time.

Some of the greatest minds in Europe accepted the challenge. But it took Harrison, a self-educated clockmaker, to create the marine chronometer. The marine chronometer became a standard stowaway on ships and men on the Seven Seas were able to find their way home without
having to stop and ask for directions.

The modern version of this is the GPS system. the Global Positioning System is a series of 24 satellites in a pattern around the world. Originally designed to military use, it was opened up to public use for many applications from farming to transportation to personal use.

I have one for hiking. This is so I know where I am when I am really lost!

Well, just like walking in the woods, I might have thought I was heading in a particular direction only to find out it was not the right direction. Sometimes while walking in the woods, it feels like you are walking in the right direction only to find out you went in the wrong way. When you are walking in the woods, you cannot use the sun since you cannot see the sun.

A GPS will work in the woods to guide and lead out the confusion of the forest.

Lord, lead me in the right direction using the GPS of life as I continue on the Adventure of Middle Grove.