Calvary ​United Methodist 

Church

​Thoughts for the Journey

The season of Lent has begun with 40 days until we meet Jesus at the tomb stretched out before us. Thinking about this journey this year, I was reminded of the road trips that my family took. Some were “Sunday” drives often ending in a stop at Bonomo’s for ice cream. Some trips took us to friends or family near or far. Before converted baby seats and booster seats, we children sat in the back seat with books, toys, pillow/blanket and snacks. No seat belts. No vista but the inside of the car. My mother loved to tell the story of my asking daddy if we were there yet and his reply, “we’re getting closer all the time”. This would cause my little girl self to be annoyed and ask my mother the same question. You might have guessed this but she gave the same answer. I then harrumphed back into the seat and sulked a bit frustrated with an answer that was no answer to me at all. There was no GPS, only simple maps and my father’s incredible sense of direction. None of that helped at that time when I just wanted out of the car! As I grew, my vista included the countryside that passed by my window. It took me a few years to really appreciate this view. Countryside, pastured animals, cars moving with us or in the opposite direction, rain clouds, sunsets, cityscapes, people – life. Signs challenged me to read quickly, learn direction, and explain where we were. Beauty and dirt, congestion and isolation, direct route and detours – I realize these journeys were excellent metaphors for life in general. And faith. Whether young in age or spirituality, we all start with the view of our place in the immediate. As we grow, our vision expands to include more of the world beyond our own. Along the way are sign posts of beauty, dirt, congestion, isolation, direct routes and detours. No life, no faith journey is smooth, easy or direct. In fact, in one way or another, we constantly ask the question, “are we there yet?” The Parent just answers, “we’re getting closer all the time.” Annoying, challenging, and makes us want to harrumph back into the back seat. And then we glimpse a bit of color, of life outside our own and begin to pay attention in a new way. We grow more engaged and patient. We grow more appreciative and excited. We grow beyond ourselves and become part of the vista that surrounds us all. Our faith journey this season bringing us to the tomb once again allows us to look at our self-space and then out the window to the world that is not just beyond us but also includes us. What new vistas will inspire you? What signs will come into view that become clear, give direction and show you where you are at the same time where you might go? Maybe the most important lesson that my parents taught me in the “closer” conversations, was patience. Finding your destination is important but do not discount the journey itself. Take the time to look, connect, experience. With our destinations now displayed on our GPS it should give us more opportunity to see out the window. With Christ as our spiritual direction,
we are given more opportunity to realize our true destination, God’s Perfect Solution.

“Are we there yet?”
     “We’re getting closer all the time.”
                            Pastor Laurie