08 Jun True North
When I went in to say good night, Emma was in bed, playing with an old compass she had found in the garage.
I sat on the edge of the bed, talking with her about her day as she fiddled with the compass. We were having a nice discussion, but I felt distracted. My laptop was beckoning me from the office, where a manuscript awaited my revisions. I was thinking about the dishes from dinner that were still piled on the counter.
“Stay with me,” Emma said as she scooted over in the bed to make room.
I felt the simultaneous and uncomfortable pull of conflicting motives, wanting two things at once: the satisfaction of completing the incomplete tasks and the nourishing comfort of snuggling next to my little girl.
Emma held up the compass. “How does it tell you which way to go?” she asked.
I thought about it for a moment, realizing a compass doesn’t tell you which way to go. “It works by pointing you to true north,” I explained as I pointed to the red magnetic needle under the dusty face. “But you have to decide which direction to go.”
Emma frowned at this description, and I could sense her disappointment. This navigational tool was falling short of her expectations. She tossed it to the side of the bed.
As I cuddled next to her, I could see the red needle of the compass steadfastly pointing north from where it had landed when she tossed it aside. I watched as Emma shifted around, moving the sheets and pillows to get comfortable. In the process, she sent the compass tumbling off the bed. I could still see the red needle pointing north.
So often, we are looking for a sign that we are going in the right direction – the universe clearly telling us whether we should start, stop or continue down a specific path. We long for a trail of breadcrumbs to follow that gives us confidence in knowing we are going the right way.
Instead, what we have is a compass. It tells us one thing: our true north. A reminder of what is most important. And if we pay attention to that, we will always find our way.
The work and dishes can wait. Tonight, I’m reminded of my true north.