468. Journey over Destination
In life, it is easy to get caught up in getting to a destination. Because the destination is a goal, we associate it with fulfillment. But what I have learned from my Grand Canyon trip last year is that the journey can be as enjoyable as, if not more enjoyable than, getting to a destination. What I enjoyed the most wasn't the Grand Canyon, but driving along the scenic route and taking in the vastness of Arizona.
All our life goals are destinations we want to get to. But when we are too fixated on simply "getting" there, we lose all the joy that is available in between. And when the journey is not accounted for, arriving at the destination doesn't feel that fulfilling. We think we are celebrating successful people for making it, but what we are really interested in is "how" they did it. It is true that without being successful, people won't be interested in hearing the story. But we know that what matters is not being celebrated by others, but not being ashamed of the journey we have taken. If the journey was cheating and conceit, the destination matters very little.
Exercise is the same. There are many new weight-loss products that promise rapid weight loss. It can be very helpful for those who need clinical assistance. But it is not weight loss that people are after. It is the journey of self-discipline that supports the outcome achieved, giving them confidence that they chose the right path without giving up.
The Seed has grown in the last 10 years. As thankful as I am for being where we are today, I am most thankful for the fact that we have taken a principled path, the journey that requires patience and discipline. We've tried hard to establish the house church ministry as we were taught, and we've wrestled with both small and big problems that have arisen along the way. But through it all, we have learned to hope in the unknown, to pray persistently in the midst of silence, and to trust in God's wisdom when our logic said otherwise. It is this journey that I am more proud of than where we are.
At this 10th-year mark, I am more excited about the next phase of the journey we are taking than about where we will be in the 20th year. Let’s all enjoy the journey with a great anticipation of what God will do in us and through us.
