Waze to Heaven

“You have reached your destination!” We eagerly long to hear this message from our trusty Waze application. This consoling congratulatory robotic notice manages to make up for the wasted time in the twists and turns of horrendous traffic.

The advent of such helpful applications like Waze, has truly changed the manner we navigate through the congested avenues and unforgiving roads of our untamed concrete jungle. Save for some exceptions, such as an unexplainable gridlock, when the app may humbly concede defeat.

Commuters are more confident when the app gives them a good feel of the general traffic situation. However, it may also cause temporary anxiety when it guides us through unknown backstreets and still miraculously leading us faster to our point of arrival. Whatever reason one has for travelling, the most important thing isn’t enjoying the view (though this may be part of long trips) but in getting to our destination.

For today’s youth who are zigzagging through life’s thoroughfares, one wishes that there could be a sort of Waze app to help them navigate through the roads of life that are becoming less clear, more confusing and complicated. They often get lost in decision crossroads, stuck in a narrow one-way street of their passions, or simply meandering bored through random streets without any clear destination. With today’s moral compass gone awry, many young people finding it difficult their way through life!

A friend once told me that in our country, we are lucky to have access to a powerful and effective GPS service. He amusingly explained that GPS stood for: ask a Guard, Policeman or Security Guard.

I reflected on this and thought that GPS could very well spiritually and morally guide today’s youth: to seek Guidance, to Persevere and go to the Sacraments (GPS).

Guidance means asking someone for directions. This could be a spiritual director, mentor or life coach. As in Waze, the first thing one does is to set a specific destination. The app then offers possible routes to take and indicates the length of time for the trip.

When we ask someone for directions, it implies that we somehow know where we want to go but are unsure of what route to take to get there. The advice of a priest or a mentor can be very helpful to identify the means, the path and the pace to consider for one’s life-trip towards Heaven.

These sessions often focus on short-term goals between the point of departure and arrival. They aim to acquire virtues and give a basic structure to one’s spiritual life that makes the journey more efficient and productive. The director helps the pilgrim to assess his progress, open horizons in his interior life and apostolate.

Perseverance is an important element in any journey. Without it, one can easily succumb to stop-overs, digressions and even abandoning the trip entirely.

Today’s millennials find focus, constancy and perseverance difficult. They may have an idea of what they must do or where they must go, but they lack the strength to continue and place the last stones.

Perseverance becomes more meaningful when one realizes that his journey is not done alone. Whatever one invest in prayers, sacrifices and work supports others who may be weak, tired or discourage during the trip.

The Sacraments are like power cells or fuel for one’s journey in the spiritual life. Whether we feel their effects or not, these supernatural means supply us with something that only God can give: grace.

The Fathers of the Church beautifully compared them to God’s fingers and our Lord’s footprints. They are fingers that hold us firmly and are like footprints to follow which make us take firm and sure steps towards Heaven.

Finally, it is important to remember that one never usually travels for the sake of the destination alone. When we arrive, it is more like seeking out familiar faces, smiles and embraces. Heaven, likewise, isn’t our final destination as a place. But it is finally being with Someone who has been lovingly waiting for us, there are also our Lady, St. Joseph, the saints and our beloved ones who have gone before us.

“Welcome, you have reached God and us, your destination!”