I get several newsletters in my email from various authors. This month I want to share an excerpt from Karla Dornacher’s. She is the artist in our Thursday Bible Study book. She recently moved to Tucson after her husband died to be near her daughter.
It is interesting how perspective changes the lens of how we view our lives and our circumstances. Shortly after deciding to go visit friends and family up north… I began to question my decision. It’s a long drive…and because of my back pain I can’t drive more than four or five hours in a day. That makes it a very long drive. Five days just to my first stop……
The more I began thinking about the long drive, the hassle of having Tilly (Karla’s dog), and wondering if my body would be okay… the more I began to dread going. Of course I wanted to go. But it felt like more of a burden than a blessing… overwhelming and exhausting… before even leaving the house. I came so close to not going. Until one day…
I was talking to my daughter about how I was questioning my sanity… listing out all the negatives I’d been dwelling on. Then I heard myself call it… a road trip. I seriously paused. Road trip… it didn’t sound like a burden… it sounded like freedom. In that moment everything suddenly shifted. My perspective changed. I began to see this getaway… not as a long, exhausting drive to a destination… but as an adventure to look forward to every day of the drive. I decided right then that I would purposely and intentionally look for God all along the way and share my findings with you. That’s the plan and I’m excited. …….
I’ve prayed and planned as much as I can… and am trusting the Lord with the rest. I have no idea what He has planned and just pray He opens my eyes so I won’t miss whatever He wants me to see.
Funny how sharing this made me think about how life is a journey. How God tells us we are just sojourners here… travelers on a road that will one day take us to our final destination… heaven! And oh what a glorious day that will be! Amen? But sometimes this earth journey can become exhausting and overwhelming, can’t it? To the point where all we see or dwell on are the negatives… the hard things… the challenges that weigh us down. Of course, we want heaven. But we’re not enjoying the journey.
Oh my friends… the Lord wants us to find joy in the journey… the joy of the Lord! Sometimes a change in perspective is all we need. Seeing each day as a God adventure… an earthly road trip. Taking the time to stop along the way and look for Jesus in the midst of all that weighs us down. Casting our cares upon Him, giving Him our hearts, and trusting that He is right here on this journey with us. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 It’s his promise. Amen? Amen!
I’m choosing to see every mile as a chance to look for and enjoy His goodness and grace.
I hope you enjoyed Karla’s perspective on travel as much as I did.
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Robin
The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox item for July is School supplies.
This is the perfect time of year to stock up!
Your small gift can make a HUGE difference!
