[433 words]
John C. Maxwell, in his book The Difference Maker, quotes an excerpt from a speech given by former First Lady Barbara Bush at Kennebunk High School in Maine. I thought it was worth sharing:
“We get on board that train at birth, and we want to cross the continent because we have in mind that somewhere out there is a station. We pass by sleepy little towns looking out the window of life strain, grain fields and silos, level grade crossings, buses full of people on the roads beside us. We pass by cities and factories, but we don ‘t look at any of it because we want to get to the station. We believe that out there is a station where a band is playing and banners are hung and flags are waving, and when we get there that will be life s destination. We don ‘t really get to know anybody on the train. We pace up and down the aisles looking at our watches eager to get to the station because we know that life has a station for us.”
“The station changes for us during life. To begin with, for most of us, it’s turning 18, getting out of high school. Then the station is that first promotion and then the station becomes getting the kids out of college, and then the station becomes retirement and then–all too late–we recognize the truth: that this side of that city whose builder is God, there really isn’t a station. The joy is in the journey and the journey is the joy. Sooner or later, you realize there is no station and the truth of life is the trip. Read a book, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, hug a child, go fishing, laugh more. The station will come soon enough. And as you go, find a way to make this world more beautiful.“
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to reach some milestone in life and miss what’s really important. Often times we get focused on what lies ahead in life and miss that today is all we really have (see James 4:13-16, Matt. 6:34). We also can be guilty of missing God’s will for our lives by the pursuit of these various milestones. There’s nothing wrong with striving after something in life (a promotion, getting the kids through college, etc.). However, we need to be careful to not let those pursuits interfere with or override what God wants for us and from us as we journey through life (Matt. 6:33).
Joe Williams
Pulaski Street Church of Christ
Lawrenceburg, TN