Getting around has never been so easy, it seems.  No matter what neighbourhood or even what country you happen to be in, you can check your GPS for directions that are highly reliable though not infallible. You can even program the soothing voice of “Brad from California” or “Bonnie from Australia” or even the comical voice of Bart Simpson (no joke) to direct you safely to your desired location.

Or, if you, like me, are without a handy GPS device in your car, simply flick-on your computer (or iphone) and Google Maps can not only show you how to get there, complete with map and detailed instructions, but allow you to drive the route on your computer screen in 3-D. 

Getting around has never been so easy.

Interesting, isn’t it, that a recent study showed that, if given the chance, both women and men of different ages preferred asking for directions and in fact they found their destination more quickly and accurately than those using high-tech tools.  Perhaps there’s something within us that simply prefers people to computers. Even the GPS voice of Bart Simpson is no replacement for the voice of a real human being.

No surprise, then, that today leaders in the church seek conversation and company with one another. We can read.  We can attend lectures.  We can research on the internet.  But actually gathering together in the same room to share questions and experiences, frustrations and insights, is invaluable.  When the path ahead is untried and unsure, relationship matters.