No trails for me today, but plenty of paved roads in wide open spaces. I'm hitting the road in both directions.
First I have to drive to a quaint old mining town about 40 minutes away called Bisbee, where I get my hair cut (much to my husband's chagrin). Then I whip back by the house to put the final touches on my hair before heading to the airport in Tucson to pick up my mother for a weeklong visit. Yippee! We'll be spending the afternoon in Tucson because I have a dentist appointment and then taking the college son to dinner before heading home.
So I'll have plenty of time on the road today. Not thrilled with the journey, but ecstatic about the end results - the beginning of a visit with mom and dinner with Daniel. So I'll endure the journey to get to the destination.
Some days, I must admit, it feels like I'm just enduring my journey here on earth to get to my Final Destination, so I can have that eternal visit with the King and enjoy the complete removal of all that is bad and painful. Sometimes the journey just seems long and difficult and and painful. And sometimes, like today on my trip to Tucson, it feels like I'm traveling this long road of life all by myself. The journey's just hard, some days, and no fun at all. It seems more like an endurance race than a sprint or even a hike, and I'm not much of an endurance runner.
But, just like my journey to Bisbee and Tucson today, the trip is what we make it. Today, in order to endure the long drive, I'll play some good music on the radio (hey, I'll take my IPod!), I'll spend some time praying, and I'll try to really notice the beautiful scenery I have here in Arizona. Basically, I'll have me a good private worship session.
But the thing that will really make the trip bearable and even enjoyable is the reward awaiting me at the end of my destination. In fact multiple rewards: cute hair, my mom, and dinner with Daniel. Ok, cute hair doesn't really rank with mom and Daniel!
Really, the degree to which I enjoy the journey is up to me. If I spend my time delighting in my God and keep my eyes on my destination, joy will pervade and the trip will be a breeze.
The author of Hebrews wrote:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
Isn't that just like our God to be concerned that we don't "lose heart?" He's thought of everything! He knows this life can be a testing of our endurance and He knows that many of us are not really cut out to travel long distances without a dose of encouragement. And so He provides it here.
If Jesus could endure the path to the cross where He would die for our sins, surely I can endure the journey God has put me on. In fact, my journey has been a piece of cake compared to Jesus' trail of tears. And with the same hope, that one day I will enter into God's very presence and hear the words "well done sweetheart! welcome home!" I'll keep trekking on.
I still have to endure a lot of traveling today and we all still have some mountains to climb in our lives here on earth, but oh the difference a little perspective from the scriptures makes!
Have a good day dear friend, and wave if you see me on I-10. I'll be the one singing with my IPod. Don't forget to enjoy the scenery!