"We don't have to agree on an exact route or head down the same road, we just have to trust our inner spiritual direction and walk towards the love that lives in our hearts. In the end, we will all arrive safe and sound at the same destination-the same God-though we may not have traveled the same path in getting there."

"Forget the map," Jim declared. "The compass is the only thing that will get us out of here alive!"

Springtime in the Rockies, and there we were: two experienced hikers wandering around in circles, somewhere in the San Juan mountain range. In the thick of the forest, our map had offered little help as we pushed our way through blinding snow and howling winds. I began to worry as late afternoon turned to darkness. We were wet. We were cold. We were lost.

The compass turned out to be the best little piece of gear we had packed that day. By using it to consistently monitor our direction, we were able to arrive safely back at our car just as our nose hairs began to freeze. A Thermos full of Starbuck's finest steamed up the windows as we romanced the bean and gave thanks for our safe return. The compass had saved our lives...

Losing our way spiritually can seem just as frightening. As darkness of the soul sets in, we frantically look for a map that will lead us towards the light. Trouble is, there are so many different maps, so many different beliefs. How do we know which one to choose? And, do we really have to choose? Or is there, perhaps, another way to connect to Spirit—a way that needs no map but, rather, relies only on our own inner sense of direction? Can we trust our own spiritual compass to guide us through the dark or will the boogieman get us if we don't watch out?

Like spokes in a wheel, we are all connected to God at the center. But, also like spokes in a wheel, we come to the center (God) from different directions. Some of us arrive as Christians or Buddhists, as Jews or Muslims, as Taoists or Hindus and everything in between. Others connect through what has been labeled the New Age movement or through their own unique spiritual path. Just as a compass points north no matter where we are, so too will our spiritual compass point to God no matter what our religion or faith. It makes no difference how we connect to Spirit, only that we do.

A map only works if you already know where you're starting from. Spiritually speaking, most of us have little or no idea where we're starting from; we only know where we want to go—towards God. That's what's so great about a compass: We don't have to agree on an exact route or head down the same road, we just have to trust our inner spiritual direction and walk towards the love that lives in our hearts. In the end, we will all arrive safe and sound at the same destination—the same God—though we may not have traveled the same path in getting there.

Beginning as early as pre-school, we are taught that there is only one correct answer to a test question. Everything becomes a dichotomy—yes or no, right or wrong, true or false, black or white. We get programmed early to think in terms of absolutes and, sadly, we come to ignore the wondrous possibilities that lie in the gray areas of life—or as I like to call it—life between the piano keys, where synchronicity and creativity rule.

But here's the good news: Along the path of light we don't have to play the silly games we learned in school. Because in the world of Spirit, there is no right or wrong, no cheat sheet, no absolute truth. Sure, you can still sneak a peek over the shoulder of someone else when you think no one's looking, but it won't do you any good. Why? Because how we choose to connect to God can be as unique and individual as we are. There is no true or false, no multiple choice. Finding our way spiritually is an essay question of the highest degree where each of us is awarded a passing grade. As long as love is what guides us, there can be no wrong answers.

It helps to understand that since the same God that created the universe created us, we can surrender to this infinite power and trust It to lead us through the darkness and into the light. Nothing special is required to connect to this power—we just need to go inside ourselves and listen. You see, God didn't stop speaking to us 2,000 years ago, and He or She or It—or whatever else you choose to call the God Force—doesn't speak to just a few privileged people today. God speaks to each of us directly and honestly with unconditional love.

To hear God, you don't have to conform to some impossible standard or learn a secret code. You don't have to cram into the same phone booth as everyone else, place a collect call and hope that God will accept the charges. Nope. God set it up so we could converse with Him any time and anywhere. There's no charge. Not even for roaming! We just have to quiet our minds and stop talking long enough to hear Him.

For some of us, hitching our wagon to the organized beliefs of a church, synagogue or mosque is the right path to take. For others, a map drawn by the autobiography of a charismatic leader will take them to the spiritual oasis they seek. But, sometimes those choices can lead to a major roadblock, where rules and rituals keep the experience of God at arms length—just out of reach—the equivalent of standing knee deep in a river and dying of thirst. The spiritual connection gets short-circuited because structure and rules only get in the way of a one-on-one relationship with the Creator. Remember: There is you and there is God. Nothing else is required. Nothing.

When your thirst for a connection to God becomes insatiable—when it seems that you are spiritually lost and the answers you're getting just don't seem to fit—seek guidance from your internal compass and listen to your heart. Spend some quiet time in meditation and prayer. Read from the Bible, the Koran, A Course In Miracles or whatever other spiritual literature appeals to you. Take a hike. Buy a puppy. But then —stop—let it all sink in. How does it feel? Just right or one size too small? Need to suck in your gut just to get the zipper up? Or, does it feel comfortable and relaxed like a pair of your favorite jeans.

Compare what you have read and heard—what everyone else says you should believe—with the truth that lives in your soul. Graciously accept the various maps of those who wish to show you the way. Digest their knowledge and truth with love and compassion. Wish them well along their chosen path and make plans to meet up with them somewhere in the afterlife if you wish.

Then, when no one is looking, burn all the maps! Let your internal compass be your guide. Go with your feelings and head off in the direction that seems right—for you. You won't be alone—there's a whole bunch of us out here dancing barefoot in the rain. And you know what else? God's here too!

Some Things To Consider

Does your relationship to God seem right for you? Do you know God or just believe in God? Are you following a map or your own compass? Do you hear God speaking to you personally or do you rely on the autobiographies and the experiences of others? Have you ever been so happy that you danced barefoot in the rain?

All Rights Reserved © 2002 By Jeffrey Alan Hall