Mapped out routes. Destination guides. Planned itineraries. These things make my heart happy. I like to know where I’m going, how long it will take and what I will do once I’m there.
I don’t know about you, but God doesn’t always work that way with me.
Right now I’m in one of those times where I have no map, destination or plan; and it’s driving me crazy!
I graduated from college last spring and this May Josh will graduate. We are at a place that most people expect some sort of transition; I expected some sort of transition. We moved here three years ago so that Josh could finish Bible College and become a licensed pastor. At least, that was our goal.
Now that the goal is within sight, I’m wondering if that was God’s goal. By that I mean that there is no transition in our future (other than that of adding another child to our family – but that’s nothing). God’s not moving us; nothing in our life will change, except we won’t have homework.
Recently I was challenged with the idea that the goal is not what’s important. It’s more about the journey.
This is a foreign concept for me. I am a goal-oriented, task-focused person. I want to check things off my to-do list. I don’t mind a few detours along the way, as long as they’re scheduled and they don’t take too long.
But this idea of the journey takes the focus off the goal and instead highlights the importance of the steps. I was reading in Exodus today and I realized that if I were an Israelite woman stuck in the desert with Moses I probably would have been smited. I would have been one of the ones questioning his leadership abilities and grumbling that we were walking around directionless in the desert. I admire leaders with a plan, with goals, with vision for the future. I know I would not have gotten the concept that the journey in the desert has a purpose.
This thought is a challenge to me and to my very nature. I’m still processing it and learning to look around and discover what God has for me “en route.”
Are you someone who savours the journey or do you lean more to the “set your sights on the prize” category?
0 Responses
Adding another child to your family is nothing? Seems like a definite transition to me.
Haha! I was kidding…
I guess I was making fun of the fact that I’m looking for a transition at the same time as a very obvious one is about to take place in our family.
I love what you said about the detours not being too long. That’s me. I like a few…but, once I’ve bought the souvenirs, I’m ready to get back on the road. 🙂
I’m trying to learn that every step, traffic jam, detour, updated mapquest, has purpose.
Blessings,
Suzanne
I am so with you on being a goal setter…too often I get so focused on a specific goal that I just want to rush to the finish line rather than really enjoy the journey and all that God has for me in the in between. But, I’m learning to do both because they both have good parts and I don’t want to miss out on what He has for me in the now because I’m too focused on the future! Praying that God will continue to reveal more on this journey of yours 🙂