A conversation with my GPS
September 4, 2025
By Jeff Becraft
There are several things I like about my phone. I like the camera… I really enjoy being able to just pull it out of my pocket and be able to take great pictures. The other thing is the GPS. Now, I do like my GPS, even though my GPS lies to me on a regular basis.
Not too long ago, I was heading southbound on I-95. It was after lunchtime and I saw one of the blue signs and it had on it one of my favorite fast-food joints. So I thought, “I’m gonna take this exit.”
So even though I had never been on this exit before, it had what I was looking for and it was the right time. As I’m going up the exit ramp, I hit the second set of blue signs and I see my place is 1.0 miles to the right. And I think, “That’s good for me.”
I make a right at the end of the exit ramp and I’m heading down the road. I start to hit quite a bit of civilization and I begin to think, “You know, I really don’t know where this place is down this road here… maybe I should get directions.”
So I say to my GPS, “Find the nearest ____________ to me.”
It comes back, “There is one 1.32 miles away. Would you like to navigate there?”
At this point I catch sight of the restaurant I’m looking for. So I say back to the GPS, “What about one closer than that?”
Pause… “There is one 1.32 miles away. Would you like to navigate there?”
I am getting closer and closer as I am driving and so I say, “How about the one I can see out my window? How about that one?”
Pause… “There is one 1.32 miles away. Would you like to navigate there?”
“How about the one that’s 500 feet away? How about we try that one?”
Pause… “There is one 1.32 miles away. Would you like to navigate there?”
“How about the one that I’m looking at out my windshield? How about that one?”
Pause… “There is one 1.32 miles away. Would you like to navigate there?”
“Now, I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job or anything… but how about the one that I am staring at right in front of me and I just pulled into a parking place right in front of it? How about we try that one?”
Pause… “There is one 1.32 miles away…”
Now, I am sure that my GPS was really trying to help me (maybe) and that it was totally sincere… but it was sincerely wrong.
Which just goes to show that everything we hear on the internet… or someplace else… or even a GPS, may not be true and may not be the whole story. It is the truth that makes a difference. I would rather follow the truth and be staring at my true destination than simply follow something just because I heard it somewhere… even if it says it is the quickest way or it is a better way to get there.
It holds true for goals in life as well.
It is a great day to have a great day!
Jeff Becraft is the Director of Our Place of Hope and the Director Emeritus for Youth Corps and has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. Our Place of Hope is a paradigm shift for people living with mental illness that encourages them to regain meaning, purpose, and hope for their lives. You can connect with Jeff at [email protected].
