This week we are asked to write about “The Free Way” and the possibility of freedom in the love of Christ. However, I choose my “Free Way” to be the freeways and highways that take us to various destinations in our lifetime. Too often it is the destination that dominates our focus and not the journey. So many times in my life I have just “wanted to get there”, so there were snacks in the car, driving at night, and the “let’s beat the traffic” attitudes invading the thoughts of my travels. Yes, there are times when this is necessary, but why not factor in the joy of the journey, the “what can we see along the way” that we would miss at 90 on the interstate. Take that detour to see new landscapes, rural America, places that are simply dots on a map, or no dot at all. Take those paths that lead nowhere in particular just to feel the mountain air, sea breeze, or desert heat on your skin. Refresh your inner self by getting off the treadmill of life and letting all those stresses drift away into the ether. My fathers (yes I have two) have always been about the journey, often taking the “long way” just to enjoy the scenery, the joy of being alive, and relief from stress you can only get by changing your focus away from the destination and towards the journey. As I write this message, I am reminded of the wisdom they both provide on this topic.
So, slow down and let the journey fill you with peace, joy, and a little reminder of what it is to be alive. Find your free way to go, a new exploration, a new path to follow. Whether you feel the path taken is preordained by God or simply the journey of a sentient being through our time on this miraculous orb, enjoy every minute of every day, for the final destination is the ultimately the same for us all. It is all about the journey!!
Prayer: May the peace and joy of this beautiful earth lift you up and release you from your worries and stresses. Breathe deeply. Smile often. Amen
Dana Zaccone