Life is a Journey


I’m joining the Five Minute Friday community with Kate Motaung…5 minutes, no rewriting, and a one-word prompt…

When my daughter was young, we debated when to start her in kindergarten. Because of her birthday, we had the option of starting when she was five years old, or waiting until she turned six. Although the kindergarten teachers did not know us or our daughter, I decided to ask for their opinions, and I’ve never forgotten what one teacher told me.

Life is a journey, not a race.

I don’t remember the rest of her email, but I still think about that one sentence. Do I see life as a journey or a race?

A journey takes time. A race needs speed.

A journey means there will be waiting, but it also gives time to breathe. It allows for time to enjoy the days we are given, the good ones and even the bad.

A race requires me to rush through life, always aiming for the next goal. It means I might neglect what’s around me now, only to look back at what I missed.

A journey means there will be seasons I would like to avoid, but there is purpose in every season, even when I can’t figure out what that purpose is. Those same seasons exist in a race—they are inevitable.

A journey gives time to feel…and time to rest. A race might help me ignore the emotions, but there is different pain to be felt and little time to relax.

A journey or a race?

I choose the journey.

How about you?

In Christ,
Laura

6 comments:

  1. I'm choosing the journey with you! Great post, Laura. I appreciate your points about a journey taking time and that it allows us to rest along the way. I'm needed to do that this weekend. Thank you for spurring me on in this journey! Blessings to you.

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  2. I started kindergarten when I was four and turned five in that first week. It's a long story but basically the age deadlines in NE where I started and ND where we moved to were different. I ended up taking k over again the next year. I like what the teacher told you guys. I'm over in the 8 spot this week.

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  3. So good, Laura. I'm afraid that I tend to be a destination person -- and I get antsy in the middle of the journey, especially if the end is not in sight! Thanks for this encouragement to adjust my thinking.

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  4. Definitely a journey person here, too! This is a wonderful post that caused me to slow down and embrace where I am right this moment. Thank you for being part of the Recommendation Saturday community, Laura! <3 Heart Hugs, Shelly

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  5. Laura, I loved your post this morning as it reminded me of a dear friend. She was retired when she joined Bible Study.We forged a friendship and that year she discovered she had cancer. Whenever she invited me for out for lunch or coffee, she would drive and I seriously,never knew where we were going. When I would ask, as we would be driving a very long time, she would respond, "It's not about the lunch, it's about the journey to we take to get there." And she was right. The best conversations were had "on the journey". Thank you for the reminder of my friend, now gone, and the wisdom in those words. Blessings!

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  6. Hey, Laura: Checking in from God-sized Dreams. Thanks so much for your insights on the difference between a journey and a race. I tend to lean more towards the race, but I know the beauty of a lovely journey side-by-side with Jesus. Keep up the great work of reminding us to slow down and take in all the beauty of the day the Lord has give us.

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

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