Life is a Journey

   Some years ago the country music band Rascal Flatts recorded a song entitled, “Life is a Highway,” which was a big hit for them, and was subsequently used in the Disney movie, Cars.

   The song reflects that life is more like a journey than a destination. The words go like this:

   Life’s like a road that you travel on; When there's one day here and the next day gone; Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand; Sometimes you turn your back to the wind.

   The image of a journey is a common theme in scripture to depict our life with God. But many times we resist the time and the effort that is required in spirituality. We want quick fixes and instant gratification, like the t-shirt that says, “Give me patience, and give it to me right now!”

   On our better days, most of us recognize that life doesn’t work like that. It moves forward in fits and starts, limping and lurching forward a little at a time.

   I think that is why so many of Jesus’ parables have agrarian themes, like a farmer planting seed, or harvesting grain. It is true that those were themes that the common person in his day understood, but it is also true that life doesn’t come with instant answers. Sometimes things have to have a while to germinate and to grow.

   That is why I like the church calendar. I don’t mean the one on my desk that keeps my schedule, I mean the events of the church year that are celebrated by Christians all over the world, like Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and Lent. They provide a certain pace to life, and help us put things in perspective.

   Lent, for example, sometimes gets a bad rap. People see it as a time to “give things up.” It’s a time for fasting and prayer, so some think of it as a morbid or depressing time in the church year.

   It’s true that Lent is a time of reflection and introspection, a time to think about the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and how we, in turn, are going to live for him. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

   This spring, during our adult Bible study on Wednesday evenings, we are looking at the cross, what it means, what it did, and how we ought to live our lives in the light of it. I know some folks would rather focus only on the joy, the peace, and the love of God, but there is a time for each (Ecc. 3:1,2).

   It is a great study to do through the season of Lent, to think about how Christ loved us to death. Literally. You can join us at 5:30 for dinner, or 6:00 for Bible study each Wednesday evening now through May. It may be a slow journey, but it will be one worth taking.

Winter Thoughts

This has been quite a week! It’s a little over the top for those of us who have spent the last 15 years or so in temperate Texas!

     The word is that on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and headed back into his hole for six more weeks of winter weather, so it looks like we had better get used to it.

     I find it ironic that in my devotions this morning, I spent some time with Psalm 73. If you are not familiar with that Psalm, it raises some of the questions many of us have in life, but seldom give a voice. For instance, shouldn’t we as God’s children have an easier time of it than those who don’t fear God, don’t care about God, and never even give God the time of day?

     I think many of us live under the assumption that there must be some inherent advantage to being a believer; that maybe God listens more closely to our prayers, and grants us special favors. But I have never found this to be the case.

     Psalm 73 starts off with a declaration of faith, and says in verse 1, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” Don’t we who give special attention to God deserve special attention from him? If that is what we assume, we are mistaken.

     In verse 2, the Psalmist confesses his struggles. “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” He had become aware of a situation that almost caused him to lose his faith. He almost slipped. What was it?

     It is the same struggle many of us deal with today. “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles, their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.”

     Doesn’t it really frost your muffin when you see someone who couldn’t care less about God or even basic morality, and yet his life seems to be sailing along just fine; better than yours, in fact? It can be more than merely irritating, it can be faith-challenging. We wonder, what is the point of being good and doing good if we don’t receive good in return? The Psalmist says it well, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.” He feels like all his faithfulness is for nothing.

     But wait. In verse 17, he finally understands, “when I entered the sanctuary of God.” There is something clarifying about entering into God’s presence. Then we get it. Then we finally see clearly. Away from God and God’s people, we lose our focus. Like Peter walking on the water to Jesus, when he took his eyes off Christ and looked instead at the waves, at the turmoil all around him, he began to sink. (Matt 14:30)

     The same can happen to us. Sometimes we concentrate more on the good things that other people have than the blessings that we have. Sometimes we think more about our problems and challenges than our blessings, and that causes us to slip.

     Driving in snow and ice is always a challenge. I’m pretty sure no one thought of that when they built our church on top of a hill. When it’s slick, how do you get up there? That was my challenge on Monday morning. Here is how I solved it: along the edges and in certain spots, you could see pavement, the snow was either melted or it had been driven over many times and squished out of the way. Dry spots! I carefully drove so that my wheels went in those spots, where I knew I could get traction. Slowly and carefully, I made it to the top.

     I think that is what the Psalmist encourages us to do. In the sanctuary of the Lord is where we get our traction in this slippery world. That is where truth is to be found. If we are to navigate safely, we have to steer our lives to those places we know to be true and use them to make sure we get safely home.

     We live in a slippery world, both literally and metaphorically. Be careful out there, and keep your feet on the rock so you will not slip!