THE JOURNEY

“Life is like a Mountain Railway with an Engineer that’s Brave……” M.E. Abbey

 I often pause at one time or another to consider the things I have to be thankful for; things that I appreciate from my home life and upbringing, for the good examples and influence that family members and friends have provided for me, and opportunities that came my way, whether planned or by happenstance. I shudder to think of the many opportunities I probably missed because I was too proud (or stupid) to listen or just a result of my own poor judgment. I know this applies to many of us if not all, and I am certainly not unique in this respect.

Hopefully, we are able to learn from our mistakes and move on with no regrets. The opportunity we missed today will be recognized for its worth the next time around and maybe we’ll make the most of it if we get the chance again. So, here is another good lesson for us to learn: don’t waste time lamenting what could have been or should have been; another opportunity will be just around the next corner.

I like to think of myself as an optimist, not a pessimist; a positive thinker, not a negative. The glass is half full, not half empty. These may just be tired old clichés to some, but they represent a mindset that separates not only success from failure, but also can be the avenue to a happy life rather than an unhappy one. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is not the destination, it’s the journey.” Not to say that I am always in the best of spirits, or that I never get discouraged or let things get me down. I have my moments. I know that we all do. So this leads me to the one thing, the biggest thing, that I am especially thankful for.

Know what it is? Have you already guessed? Well it’s my faith, of course. The greatest gift and the thing I am most thankful for is that I grew up in a family that put the Lord first, and that they taught me to do the same. My parents and grandparents both not only taught me to be a believer; they were believers. They didn’t just teach me to go to church, they went to church. Yes, they taught me to pray, by praying themselves. You were probably taught to be kind to others, like I was. At least I hope you were. But I learned it because they were kind to others.

Jesus told His disciples that He came that we “may have life, and have it in abundance!” (John 10:10). I added the exclamation point myself, because I think this is one of the most exciting things our Lord ever said to us. It’s exciting to know that Heaven is our destination, to be sure, but also to appreciate the journey that takes us there. Make sure your journey is exciting, rewarding, and ever moving upward. Growing as we go, learning more and more. You will be happier and fulfilled. The life in Christ is the best life. It is life in abundance.

How much do you really know about the Lord, about the Bible, the story of God’s people, about His word, and His plan of salvation? Salvation for us all, of course, but very specifically His plan of salvation for you! He absolutely has one, so never doubt it, but His plan is not just about the destination, it’s the journey.

Whenever I take pause to think about these things, and the many blessings in my life that I am so thankful for, I can’t help but reflect on a special Christmas Day when I was eight years old, and my Grandparents gave me my first “big boy’s bible.” They had gotten my name engraved on the black leather cover and they both wrote an encouraging note inside. Granddaddy added a verse from the writings of the apostle Paul that has been the guiding inspiration of my own personal journey:

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to

be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

 It wasn’t in my young years as a student that I came to really appreciate learning, but this verse was always in my heart, even if not the front of my mind. My mother was a teacher, and I recall her telling me that if you want to learn, the best way to learn is to teach. She said the teacher would always learn ten times more than what they actually taught, so for her, the classroom was the destination, but the learning was the journey.

Whatever your journey is, love the journey; live it to the fullest. Our Lord promised that it is “life in abundance.”

Kirkland A. Mason, CEO