My Co-Pilot (05/01/2024)

I needed to make a trip home to visit my family of origin. It had been a while since I was able to go to visit my mother who is 95. I have learned that I can’t make the 8 hour – 430-mile trek alone – it isn’t safe. And so, I needed to recruit a co-pilot. This time I asked my oldest daughter. She cheerfully and graciously said, “Sure.” I warned her in advance, “You have to engage me in conversation the whole time; otherwise, I fall asleep at the wheel.” She repeated her answer, “Sure.”

Well, we departed by 8 a.m. and pulled into the hotel at 4 p.m. We drove through storms and sunshine. We drove across two states. We drank our tea, talked, dreamed, planned, stopped for potty breaks, and then started the routine all over again. I was so grateful to my daughter for giving up her time to help me with this familial need. She’s a pretty good co-pilot. I’d happily give her a 5-star rating on the appropriate app. And I am so grateful for how the drive went and the LORD’s blessing along our way. We thanked Him more than once for that hole in the traffic and beautiful scenery.

It got me to thinking about my whole journey that I call life. I am blessed to have others who help me to do what I know I need to do, to do what I hope to do, to do what I feel called to do. That’s the whole idea of “companions on the journey” – we don’t have to make this journey alone. My sisters and brothers in Christ over the many years of my journey have kept me company, challenged me, supported me. I’ve learned from them, and I pray that I have been able to bring something to them. And I’m blessed divinely by the power and presence of my LORD as well, always and everywhere. I hold my Savior to be trustworthy; He promised, “I am with you always” and “I will ask the Father, and He will send you another Advocate,” the Spirit.

I pray that as we continue on our journeys home to life in abundance with our loving LORD that we are blessed to have the companionship of others led by faith, buoyed by hope, fueled by love. I pray that we look about us and reach out to our sisters and brothers. The shared journey is a gift to us as well as to them. The LORD desires that we be there for one another – recall how Jesus sent the disciples in twos. And always and everywhere, we do need to recognize the presence of the LORD.  

We are meant to make our journey – to be out and about on mission – on our Savior’s mission. We are meant to be there for one another. Some of us will make cross country treks while others will stay close to home – it’s not the distance that matters – it’s who we become along the way and who we help along the way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.