Alignment

Helen Francis

Recently I keep hearing the phrase "getting my ducks in a row". It conjures up wonky ceramic wall ornaments for some. Perhaps like me, they are picture straighteners, people who are irritated and unsettled by things being unaligned.

Setting things straight things produces calm, joy and almost relief (how often have you seen a person stand back and admire a straight picture, or set of shelves they've just hung on a wall, a look of smiling satisfaction on their faces?).

For others, getting your ducks in a row may be a reference to the flight formation of the birds as they leave for warmer climes in the autumn. It's a formation that allows change, new direction, and safety. All following the one lead.

We tend to use the phrase when we feel directionless, out of alignment, going nowhere. This need for alignment seems almost inbuilt in us, and we are unsettled when we feel out of it. I find this can be especially true of my spiritual life.

Without noticing, the vibrations of the world around can cause misalignment. Bit by bit, slowly, over time, I can lose my bearings begin feeling unable to go forward, out of sync with everything, easily irritated and lacking peace and joy.

Then, thanks to the Holy Spirit, I recognise the discomfort I'm feeling is because I'm off course and the craving for realignment is almost overwhelming.

How and why this misalignment happens is explained in Jeremiah 10:

O LORD, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].
(Jeremiah 10:23, AMP)

But thankfully realignment is accessible and within immediate reach:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:2-3)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. (Psalm 37:23)

Leaning on Jesus, aspiring to live the life of love he commanded, spending time in prayer, having my soul restored by choosing times of stillness, using his word to shed light on my path so I can change direction all helps me realign.

A great example of spiritual realignment is found in Acts 10 and 11. The apostle Peter is made uncomfortable because he's asked to do something that does not align with the beliefs he holds dear, others who hold his beliefs feel equally uncomfortable when he tells them what he's done, he has baptised gentiles! But Peter has allowed God to realign him and finishes by saying:

"…so if God gave them the same gifts as he gave us, who was I to think I could oppose God." When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God.
(Acts 11:17-18)

He fell into formation under God, they fell into formation behind him and the church soared off to a new direction, with its ducks in a row. Hope the week ahead sees you in great flight formation!