Life Is a Journey (01/31/2024)

This past week, as I approach the 3-year mark of this blog, I must admit I have been wondering if it matters and if I am to continue. I’ve taken it to prayer. I’ve spent time pondering my future direction. Then yesterday, I stopped to see my daughter on my way home from errands. As I bent to give a goodbye pet to Chester, her cat, she asked me what the message in my coat pocket said. I looked at her confused. “What message?” She tugged at my coat pocket and showed me. Inside the pocket was sewn a cloth tag that read, “Life is a Journey. Stay warm. Keep Dry.” I have owned that coat for over 20 years. I love it because it keeps me warm even on sub-zero days and dry even on rainy and snowy days. I had no idea that label was there.

All day, my daughter’s discovery stayed with me. I couldn’t believe that I was oblivious to something so obvious for so long. Then I recalled a piece of wisdom shared with me once long ago: sometimes we don’t see things until we need to see them. My blog site is titled “A Soul’s Journey.” It’s my way of sharing the journey of life with others, offering my own experiences and prayerful ponderings to others on the way. I took it as a sign. The LORD continues to amaze me. Last evening, this was my focus for night prayer – direction for the future. I prayed, as I often do, “Is it me, LORD? I will do what You ask. I will go where You send me. Guide me, LORD, I pray.”

I am sure that the path ahead is not a mystery to me alone. I am sure that others wonder, ponder, pray and beg for direction from the LORD. What should I do? Where should I go? Whom should I help? The journey of faith is just that – a journey of faith. It isn’t a journey with well plotted roads and designated stops. Each of us must make it. While our destination is the same, our courses will vary. What won’t vary is our reason – our desire to grow in our relationship with the LORD and to come home to the LORD and to bring as many with us as we can.

As we continue on our journeys of faith, buoyed by the hope, and fueled by love from our LORD and for our LORD, let us take time daily to prayerfully ponder our paths, to consider others on the way and how we might be called to accompany them, and to open ourselves to the gifts of others that may enhance our lives and our journeys. Let us always be on the lookout for others who need a shoulder to lean on or a hand to help out. And as we do so, let us recognize that one of the most powerful ways we love and serve the LORD is by loving and serving those whom the LORD created and loves, our sisters and brothers.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.