Mark and I have just come back from a long journey: our journey from home and back again took place in cars, ours and someone else’s, busses, shuttles, transits, travelators, trains, planes, metro, walking – lots.
We had a great time chatting to our hosts on the first evening, to our travelling companions on the journey, reading and listening to lots and lots of various instructions in different languages and finding out places and ways of getting to our destinations by ourselves!
Some of them were wonderful… the transit train from airport security to the gates for flight and the same on the return journey, had a very pleasant lady’s voice, but quite insistent that we “don’t get off this transit at this stop”! Three times she insisted that passengers did not “get of the transit at this stop”, as it wasn’t where we were supposed to be! Another instruction was at both ends of the flight the chief flight attendant thanked us for travelling with the airline and, “would advise you to collect all your belongings before leaving the cabin. Please be careful when opening the overhead lockers as objects may fall out due to movement during the flight, and do have a pleasant onward journey to your final destination!!!
Pretty obvious … but it is a journey we are on! It will have a “final destination” (heaven… when a new adventure will begin!), but for now our “journey in life, our journey together as a local church, will have many mini journeys! Some may feel pretty epic and not so mini, as we navigate people, issues, problems, attitudes and changes… on our way to our “final destination”!!
Our scenery changed many times, on our trip and at times was repetitive Sometimes it was motorway, sometimes country, or city, sea, air … some we loved, others were – take it or leave it!… so with the journey of life – some places we can’t wait to leave behind and others we would linger a little longer! All part of the journey. So with Church – folks – we haven’t made it yet!!! And won’t ever ‘til heaven comes! We will always have changes, tweaks, etc – some things we will return to, other will be left behind…..we need to embrace the changes of the journey and not stress over things that are not our natural inclination… remember … “this too will pass”!
The transport wasn’t always easy to navigate … it took patience, asking, working with it to be able to actually appreciate it, and we had our preferred methods, which weren’t always what we got! But it added to the adventure!
Apart from starting out and our ending up – we were not in control of the timings… or the mode of transport, the speed, the stops or the comfort! That wasn’t always easy – we needed to trust the drivers, the pilots and the coordinators of our trip! One part of our journey was when we were in the shuttle bus back to our friend’s car, in the long stay car park. We had no idea where it was, where we were going and when to get off … we just had to be ready when they nodded “now” They knew and weren’t worried and just because they hadn’t given us detailed instructions didn’t mean we were lost , nor did we panic…they knew and we kept our eyes on them- The leaders!
Sometimes you may not know the why, how, when or where… but God does and He has prepared your paths. He has also given your pastors the plan they need, for this season in church life. We need to learn to trust God and them – they’ll get you there – just “don’t get off the transit at this stop!”
Life ‘s journey is full of mini adventures and journeys that make up the whole – lets help each other, be willing to trust and go with the uncomfy! Let us spur one another on and ride the ride where it’s not the scenery we prefer… remember the supposed end of our trip was greeted with the words, “Please be careful when opening the overhead lockers as objects may fall out due to movement during the flight, and do have a pleasant onward journey to your final destination!”
There may be a few falling objects… due to movement during the flight…. but enjoy the ride – We are not there yet!
Our final destination – we have a way to go! Some walk fast on the travelator, while others take a time to ride and not walk. Some will get off when advised not to. Some will moan, some will sing, but if we will be patient and enjoy the journey – where ever the pilots take us – then we are fulfilled, nourished, and spurred on for the next part of the journey – to our Final destination! “Infinity and beyond!”
Happy journeying!