"Life's a journey, not a destination"

How cliché is that?

BUT…how true is that? Life's a journey, not a destination. .

When I first moved to Boston, I used to get so frustrated getting around the city, mostly I would get frustrated at the amount of time it would take me to get from point A to point B. From class to home, from my friend's apartment to a coffee shop, from the Trader Joe's  to my kitchen; everything was at least a twenty to thirty minute walk through the city in snow, rain or sun. Walking is the way of life there, it is the only way to get from point A to point B with the occasional option of utilizing public transit, rain or shine, freezing or sweltering. Many times as I made these journeys, I would find myself thinking only about my destination: how much further from this landmark or that landmark, how nice it would be once I got there (to point B), how nice it would be to get out of this weather once I arrived, I can finally rest or unwind when I get there, what am I going to do when I get there…etc. As I thought all this, I would find myself getting frustrated at the amount of time it would take me to get there, to get to my destination. I wasted a lot of time walking around Boston thinking only about my destination, giving no thought or consideration to the journey from point A to point B, no thought or consideration to my present environment and surroundings. Time wasted.

BUT, the time I spent commuting those handful of miles each day was not time wasted, unless I made the choice to waste it. Unless I chose to waste it by thinking about the destination and how much further I had to go until I reached it, or my mental to do lists for upon arrival… instead of enjoying the time spent outside taking in my surroundings, the beauty of the seasons and people around me. Interacting with the world around me, that is not time wasted. How many opportunities have I missed to "build the kingdom" on my journeys throughout Boston, how many walks have I wasted thinking only about the destination?

How much of our lives do we waste by thinking about only our destinations, our 'next steps' and planning our futures?

When we are kids, everyone asks "What do you want to be when you grow up?" No one ever asks, "What do you want to do while you grow up?" That seems like an odd question, doesn't it? But the truth is, we don't ever really 'grow up', we never reach that specific end-point moment and realize, ok, now I am all grown up, I have finally arrived at my destination, now I can stop walking. Life isn't like that, is it? Life truly is a journey. A journey of doing, while we grow up, while we mature. So, the question still stands, why do we waste so much time thinking about the destination and spend so little time enjoying the world around us? Why are we so concerned about the future, and less concerned about living in the present moment?

"Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:25-27

This verse of wisdom tells us not to worry about the destination, but instead focus on the path before us, focus on the journey and the steps we are currently taking. Focus on the journey of doing, while we make our way to our destination.

Jesus is unique. He lived His life as a journey, cherishing each day, person, moment and circumstance that crossed His path. He kept His gaze fixed straight in front of Him looking the prostitute in her eyes, watching the disciples as they put to practice the words He had just preached, and making eye contact with the man on the mat before Him and not distracted by the large crowds looking on. He kept His feet on the path He was on, undistracted by thoughts of the future or temptations to the right and left of Him. He focused on the journey, not the destination. He knew His destination, was confident in where He was going to the point He never had need to worry about it. All of us living in Christ, we too know our destination. We can be confident in the fact that Christ died for us, we get to spend eternal life in heaven with His presence; that is our ultimate destination.

As Christians, why do we spend much of our life worrying about that? Worrying about where our life is going and what is going to come next? We know where our path leads by following Christ, we need not worry about the curves or mountains or valleys up ahead…we need only focus on the journey, on the path straight before us.  

Jesus was confident in His destination, AND enjoyed the journey. Each person that He encountered, He encountered and didn't turn up His radio or consume His eyes with His smartphone and tune out. He loved everyone around Him no matter what the day's agenda held. He up and dropped everything to go and raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11), was willing to go to the centurion's house to heal his servant, though He didn't know Him (Luke 7). He chose to continue spending time teaching where He was opposed to ditching the eager students for His biological family (Matthew 12). Jesus was willing to let go of the day's plans and just DO. He lived the journey, knowing His destination was secure. He did not waste any time as He got from point A to point B.  

What if I walked the streets of Boston like that? Knowing I will get to my destination and focusing on the path before me, the people and circumstances surrounding me on my journey from point A to point B. What If I let go of my daily agenda and instead of wasting my life by creating mental to dos, responded to the path under my feet, responded to the circumstances, people and moments around me giving each all of my attention, thought and prayers? Living life as a journey allows us to stop planning life, and start living it, start responding to the circumstances God has placed around us for HIS purpose and glory.

What if we lived our lives like Jesus? Knowing we will get to our destination, but kept our focus solely on the path under our feet?

"Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can man understand his way?" Proverbs 20:24

So, let me ask you, since "life's a journey, not a destination:" What are you going to do while you grow up? What are you going to do...right now?