Life is a Journey – 7 September 2009

I am very task oriented – I see what needs to be done and I aim for the completion of that task – that is my focus. 

This means I tend to drive too fast as I am focussed on getting from A to B as quickly as possible – reaching the destination is the important thing.

I can get impatient with people who don’t appear to be as focussed as I am.

But God showed me on my sabbatical how I can miss out on so much if I am too focussed.

I spent a week on Holy Island – a small island off the Northumberland coast, near to .  I did quite a bit of walking and visited parts of the island I had not been to before.  During the week I decided I would walk out to a part of the sand dunes I had not been to before – about 2 miles or so. 

It was a lovely day, although there was some possibility of rain.  So I set off for the sand dunes at a brisk pace with my clear aim in mind.

As I was striding out, about half-way to my goal, I sensed God’s Spirit speaking to me, saying quite simply - “enjoy the journey”.  “Enjoy the journey”

Of course, what sense that makes – there was so much beauty all around me, but I was so focussed on reaching the sand dunes before it rained, that I was not taking the time to enjoy the scenery that surrounded me.

I made myself slow down and take in the views, the farm animals in the fields, the berries on the bushes, the flowers amongst the grasses, the sunlight on the clouds, the sound of the waves and the bird noises. 

I began to enjoy the journey.

As I reflected on this I realised that God was teaching me much more than to enjoy my afternoon’s walk. 

Life itself is a journey, for the Christian it is often called a pilgrimage – defined in the dictionary as “a journey, especially a long one, made as an act of devotion”.

Sometimes the journey of life, devoted to God, can be very difficult, or boring, or exciting, or sad.  And at this time of year when many of us take up the reigns of busyness after a more relaxed summer period, we can lose sight of that journey.  But whatever our current experience I believe God is saying “enjoy the journey”, make the most of the journey.

Of course the destination is important, but most often it is as much about “how” we reach it, as it is about the fact of reaching it.