Finding Joy in the Journey

I was talking to my wife last week and somehow the discussion moved to talking about the journey as compared to the destination. It seems that so often we are focused on the destination, that we forget to find joy in the journey.

How many times have I brushed past someone in need of Christ's love because I was "on a mission for Jesus?"

How many times have I not stopped to offer "a drink of water in Jesus' name" to the thirsty, because I was focused on the wrong thing?

It's like Daniel in the first Karate Kid movie. He goes to Mr. Miyagi for karate lessons and instead finds himself doing chores. Wax on, wax off. Paint the fence. Sand the floor.

In his frustration, Daniel confronts Mr. Miyagi, asking why he has to do menial labor when he was promised training for a karate tournament.

What Daniel didn't realize is that through the repetitive motion, Mr. Miyagi was forcing muscle memory. Now when he was attacked, Daniel instinctively knew several defensive moves.

Or maybe it is like the man who asked God to give him great strength. God responded by showing the man a very large rock lying at the bottom of a steep hill. God said, each day I want you to push this rock up that hill.

And so with great excitement, the man leaned against the rock the first morning, and nothing happened. Then, over time he began to have the strength to move the rock, eventually getting it closer and closer to the top of the steep hill each day.

However, each morning the rock would be at the bottom of the hill again, and the man would start to push it back up.

Finally, in frustration (much like Daniel to Mr. Miyagi, I imagine) the man cried out to God: "why is it that I never get anywhere with this rock? Why is it that all I do all day is push it up the hill?"

God responded, "You asked me for strength. Each day as you have pushed against this rock, your muscles have grown. Today you are stronger than you have ever been."

Because he was so focused on getting the rock to the top of the hill, the man never noticed that his hard physical work had made him stronger. God had answered his prayer!

Far too often in western culture we forget to find joy in the journey. Our lives have become so focused on the destination that we miss the learning, serving, living that is found in the journey.

Stop today and find how you can best "find joy in the journey."