A Spiritual Compass

by Megan Lee

“Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Newcomb Hall?”

A middle-aged man tapped me on the shoulder, a visitor’s guide clutched in his hand. “Oh, I’m a first-year,” I replied apologetically, “I’m actually still trying to find my way around myself.” It was the day before the first day of classes, and my roommate and I decided to walk our schedule of classes so we wouldn’t get completely lost on our actual first day. “I didn’t realize the campus - er, grounds, was this big,” commented my roommate as we finished our trek, a grueling two hours after we set out. We were both sweaty, tired, and eager to go home to our dorm with only one problem - we just had to figure out how to use Rider to get back.

Transitioning to college is a season of finding one’s bearings in a number of different ways: physically, academically, socially, and spiritually. Through the first few months, I learned how to navigate myself through all of these realms. At first, Grounds was a complete hedge maze. Enormous lecture halls, tricky exams, and pages upon pages of reading also presented a challenge. Outside of aca- “Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Newcomb Hall?” demics, I was constantly meeting new people; spitting out personal facts (name, year, major) became an automatic response after each encounter. I was bombarded with little flyers all energetically urging me to Come To This! or Try Out For That! As the semester progressed, things became more routine and I settled into this new life in a new space.

The most important area of my life in which I found my bearings was in my walk with God. I emerged from high school battered and weary from a number of harmful relationships, which put my faith on the back burner. By the end of high school, I was spiritually burnt out to cold ashes, and college gleamed with potential for a fresh start. My first steps on my college journey were not made intending to seek God, but I soon discovered that God was directing me in new and unexpected ways. Like the poles of the Earth pull the arrow of a compass, God pulled me closer to himself.

Surprisingly, my physical location played a huge role in this shift. Being outside much more often increased my awareness of God’s beauty in nature. There is nothing more euphoric than walking outside on a beautiful day, feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays and the cool breeze on my skin. Even on stormy days, rainbows light up the sky over Grounds in the aftermath. Witnessing the sunrise on morning runs inspires me yell, “Thanks God!” out loud, giving a whole new meaning to “His mercies are made new every morning.” I learned the song “Seasons” by Hillsong this semester, and being able to see the progression of autumn’s brilliant reds and oranges and yellows to winter’s soft snowfalls to spring’s pink and white blooms made the lyrics that much more salient in my life. On clear nights I can look up and see the constellations, something that my view from home didn’t offer 27 I didn’t expect it, but I realized that all of these things made me incredibly aware of God’s glory. Seeing His creation filled my mind with verses and praise songs - if the stars are made to worship, so will I. me. I even got to sit outside around a bonfire one chilly night and watch in awe as the moon turned red during the eclipse in January.God also pulled me to Himself through relationships with other people. Coming into college I knew I would join Christian fellowships for the community. I discovered that being around a large group of people my age who are fired up about God was incredibly revitalizing for my burnt-out faith. I saw God in large group events, retreats, and sermons, but I felt Him most through specific relationships with others. I was able to meet so many passionate and kind people through whom I was able to see God working. The wisdom of others who were more mature in their faith helped point me in the right direction towards rekindling the flame.

Relationships with peers, even outside of Christian fellowships, changed as well. I found myself in deeper conversations more often, discussing difficult questions about faith and sharing about my personal walk with Christ. These conversations have been some of the most meaningful moments I’ve had this year.

Looking back, I can see how God has pulled me to himself in these distinct ways. God is evident simply because of who he is; his personality as creator shines through his creation. In another way, God used other people to reveal himself to me. All of these things have directed my steps on a path seeking God. Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-loved verse: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” However, what is perhaps more important are the two verses that follow. They read, “‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

It’s easy to be reassured by God’s promises for us and forget about doing our part to seek God. Finding one’s bearings requires action; God is the compass that points us in the right direction. It’s our job to start the journey and follow the path ahead. When you’re unsure of where you are spiritually, take a step back and remind yourself of the ways God is pulling you to Himself: meditate on the sunrise and the storms, invest in Christ-centered relationships, take time to listen to others’ questions. If you are truly seeking, God will honor your efforts and reveal himself to you.

All we have to do is follow where the compass points.