(a Steve Orr scripture reflection)
An Instance of the Fingerpost, that wonderful novel by Iain Pears, kicks off with a murder, and then…well, then the interesting stuff starts. They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I say: Without good directions it could be a much longer journey. Even with clear guidance, it’s still step by step. And, of course, with guidance there is considerably more confidence we will arrive at our intended destination.
But murder mysteries rarely come with that kind of guidance. And this novel is more indirect than most. It is comprised of four different accounts of the "facts" as told by four different witnesses—or are they suspects?
Unlike many mysteries where the "reveal" comes at the end, skipping to the end of this book doesn't help. There are clues, of course. But they are scattered throughout the book. The only way we can understand what happened is to read each of the accounts, trying to determine just how much to trust each of the four testimonies. There are good reasons for each to be considered an unreliable source. I've never read a book quite like it.
But an odd title, right? What, you may be wondering, is a fingerpost? You might be surprised to learn you already know the answer. Picture this: Some travelers arrive at an intersection of roads. There, they find a post. On that post are narrow boards on which are printed the names of towns and other locations. The boards may be pointed on one end or may actually resemble the fingers of a hand with three curled under and one pointing. These signposts—fingerposts—are oriented so they actually point toward the location inscribed on them.
Fingerposts are useful, especially if you’re attempting to navigate in an unfamiliar area. And, if they're so useful in the physical world, imagine how something like that might help us on our spiritual journey. Well, there are spiritual fingerposts, clear signs placed by God for us to follow. This week's scriptures are crammed full of them. Do you want to know what God wants? Do you long for clear direction? Here are just a few of the many "instances of the fingerpost" set into the Bible to help us.
· The fingerpost in this week’s Mark passage confirms: Cleanliness is not next to Godliness! There’s nothing wrong with hygiene, of course. In fact, most of us think it’s pretty important. But we can’t substitute physical cleansing for spiritual cleansing. Rather, we need to prioritize our focus on our thoughts as the source of uncleanliness in our lives.
· The fingerpost in the James passage clarifies the path we need to take on our spiritual journey: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress."
· The Psalm 15 fingerpost directs us to: Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe.
· The Deuteronomy fingerpost is: Be careful to always remember what God has done in your life, even if it was way in the past, and tell your children and their children about God in your life.
Physical fingerposts are not general. If we choose to ignore them or choose a different direction, we will not arrive where we intended. They are unequivocal. They point us in a specific direction, the direction that takes us to our destination.
Spiritual fingerposts are the same. And they abound in scripture. Clear signs are placed there by God for us to follow. We need only look for them and then move in that direction.
