It's A Cross Country Journey

 

Several years ago my husband and I bought a ‘fixer upper’ home in state 1800 miles from our current home.  The plan had been to move to this ‘new’ region, and we were happy to have bought in a nice area, even knowing there would be plenty of work to do on the house.  My husband has always been an “I can do this myself” kind of guy and was quite good at getting things accomplished, once he figured out what exactly he wanted, and how he wanted it done! 

Initially, we made small improvements, but we felt like we were at least moving forward.  Then my husband, who’d been fighting varying illnesses for a very long time, became increasingly more ill.  He was now in no position to continue the large projects staring at us, waiting to be finished.

As we get older our lifestyles eventually change.  Our bodies are weaker, funds may or may not be available, our interests change and it’s just hard to keep up the fast pace we moved in, before the years took its toll.  We learn a lot along the way, if we allow it, and are open to the lessons.  We all experience ‘firsts’ and ultimately, we also experience ‘lasts’ in our lives. 

As Believers, we find it’s vital to growth when we listen to what our journey teaches us.  It’s those lessons we’ve learned from experience, that enable us to teach our young ones, and sometimes even those not quite so young.  

Life isn’t supposed to be a sprint.  We are given just enough ‘umph’ to be driven to get things done when we are young and full of energy.  We begin slowly, pick up speed as we become more educated and physically able, until we often find ourselves moving so fast we can’t even see today!  

As we age, our journey slows once again and we have the opportunity to stop and ‘smell the flowers.’  It’s not always a sweet smelling place we find ourselves, however.  Getting older brings joint pain, the inability to run a marathon, the lack of energy we once had, the need for greater rest and the list goes on and on.

But God’s grace is always available to get us through.  We are given our ‘daily bread’ just as God planned, if we ask for it.  We are provided with the needs of our day that helps us continue this ‘cross country journey’ that was never designed to be taken at a gallop!

As we persevere, our ‘new normal’ that seems to have entranced our leaders and subjected us to isolation and other restrictions (which are being lifted), we need to remember that regardless of the circumstances that threaten to overwhelm even the strongest of us, God is still in control.  He’s the one who isn’t blindsided by any situation.  He’s with us, pulling (or pushing) us onward with just the right amount of energy, as long we are doing our best!  

I’m grateful for a God who cares about all my journeys, even the daily ones! His Spirit offers me peace and comfort, while allowing my journey to glorify Him when I stay focused on His Light.

Photo credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=cross+country+running