I recently had to make a short trip and was thinking about all the similarities to my life and especially my life as a Christian.
I left home with my destination firmly in my mind, just as I know my end-of-life destination is heaven. I wasn't too sure how long my trip would take or if there would be detours or construction along the way. I guarantee I have made many detours in my lifetime.
Sometimes, I think I know where I'm going, but then I see all the other traffic getting off at an exit and I think I should follow. Maybe they know something I don't.
I left home with my destination firmly in my mind, just as I know my end-of-life destination is heaven. I wasn't too sure how long my trip would take or if there would be detours or construction along the way. I guarantee I have made many detours in my lifetime.
Sometimes, I think I know where I'm going, but then I see all the other traffic getting off at an exit and I think I should follow. Maybe they know something I don't.
Maybe the traffic is stalled or there is an accident or the road is closed. Life is similar, isn't it? When everyone is going off in one direction, it's hard not to follow. I really don't know what's ahead and I can be easily deceived into thinking 'they' must know something I don't know. The reality is if I study God's map for my life, I will know the right path to take.
Then there is the matter of having vehicles pass me on my journey. When I'm driving, I want to be the one doing the passing; I don't want to be passed.
I feel that way in my life too. When it seems everyone else is accomplishing things and moving forward and passing me, I become envious. I don't want to be left behind, seemingly not making progress in my life.
I feel that way in my life too. When it seems everyone else is accomplishing things and moving forward and passing me, I become envious. I don't want to be left behind, seemingly not making progress in my life.
There are definite signs along the road, if I bother to read them and pay attention. Many times, I'm rushing along trying to keep up, or pass everyone else and I don't read them. God has placed a lot of directional signs in my life, mainly in His word, but they don't do much good if I don't read them: I will never know where I am.
There are times when I am driving, I feel as though I spend more time looking in my rear-view mirror than looking ahead. It is necessary to check my rear view once in a while, just like it is good for me to look back at things that have happened in the past. That's how I learn from my mistakes, but it is a huge mistake to spend so much time looking behind oneself that I forget to look ahead.
Along the highway, there are mile markers. These are a way to gauge my progress as I travel to my destination. God has placed a lot of mile markers along my path also; I may not take the time to acknowledge those little numbers or events, but they would be very helpful if I did.
Sometimes my life is full of detours. I have to take a different route and it isn't the shortest or the fastest. Occasionally, there is construction on the road and in my life. Several years ago, on the way home from Atlanta, I was stuck for 2 hours. It seemed interminable. There have been times in my life when I was stuck, too. Not making any forward progress, but eventually, I began to move again.
When my oldest grandchild was 9 or 10, I took her with me to visit my sister near Chicago. I thought it would be fun and a little more scenic if we took an alternate route. It was definitely scenic. She kept asking me, "Grandma, are we lost?" I would answer, "No. I know where I am. It's just not where I want to be."
In retrospect, that statement has been true of my life many times. I know where I am in my spiritual journey. It's just not where I want to be yet.
I know that if I accept the detours, not be envious of people moving faster than me, don't be tempted to follow others and don't spend all my time looking back, I will reach my destination and that was the point of the whole trip, right?
Sometimes my life is full of detours. I have to take a different route and it isn't the shortest or the fastest. Occasionally, there is construction on the road and in my life. Several years ago, on the way home from Atlanta, I was stuck for 2 hours. It seemed interminable. There have been times in my life when I was stuck, too. Not making any forward progress, but eventually, I began to move again.
When my oldest grandchild was 9 or 10, I took her with me to visit my sister near Chicago. I thought it would be fun and a little more scenic if we took an alternate route. It was definitely scenic. She kept asking me, "Grandma, are we lost?" I would answer, "No. I know where I am. It's just not where I want to be."
In retrospect, that statement has been true of my life many times. I know where I am in my spiritual journey. It's just not where I want to be yet.
I know that if I accept the detours, not be envious of people moving faster than me, don't be tempted to follow others and don't spend all my time looking back, I will reach my destination and that was the point of the whole trip, right?
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