North is the standard reference point on the compass.  Have you ever asked yourself why we always orient ourselves toward north?  Throughout history, various civilizations have oriented maps in different cardinal directions on the compass to conincide with the direction of the rising sun or the flow of rivers, etc.  But as navigation and exploration demanded repeatable reference points, the north star and the magnetic attraction of a compass to north have became the standard reference point.  Regardless of the reason, north is always prominently marked on the compass and maps are oriented with north up.  For us, this is emblematic of the fact that our North should be the thing that orients ourselves properly to the rest of life.  This is our relationship with things that are bigger than us.  Namely, it is our theology and our worldview.

 

Why is this important?  A theology and worldview is a framework by which we view and approach the world.  It answers the big questions in life.  Who are we?  Why are we here?  What is the meaning and purpose of my existence?  What is the basis of my morality?  What constrains my behavior?  A theology and worldview also teaches us that we are not ultimate.  As an individual, we live in a hierarchy.  Even the most libertarian among us have to admit that that we live in a system constrained by natural law that govern natural rights.  We do well to understand the world and our place in it.