We’re now solidly into the New Year and all of the end of the year stuff has been completed. We’ve closed out the business for 2012 and opened new check registers for Janet and me as we begin 2013. The bills are paid, Christmas decorations are put away, the house is clean and so, it’s just about time to get back to the regular grind. In fact, today was the first real work day of 2013. And Thursday as well as Friday are already packed with meetings.
But several years ago, Janet and I discovered that right after the first of the year was a great time to get away for several days. Not for a long time, mind you, but just a quick getaway after all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. We had not planned, however, to do anything this month as both of our schedules are pretty hectic. But as the holidays were winding down, I just couldn’t get the idea out of my head that I just wanted to take a three day break. Finally, Janet agreed and on New Year’s Eve I made reservations at our beloved Greenbrier resort in West Virginia for several days next week.
If you have been a reader of TBTB for a while, you know that Janet and I head to West Virginia at least several times a year to just kick back and get away. There are all kinds of things to do, but other than visit the spa, we don’t tend to plan our time or do anything special. Just the idea of seeing nature and walking around the grounds is all we want to do. There’s something cathartic about the place and time seems to stand still – that is, until it’s time to go home. We’re almost never ready to leave and we keep saying we are going to visit more often, but we never seem to get the trips into the schedule until the last minute.
By the way, we don’t fly, we drive there. We discovered many years ago that we enjoy each other’s company in the car and it gives both of us a chance to dial down a notch. No rushing for airplanes through airport concourses – or taking off half our clothes as we wait in line to get through security. No airline delays or people coughing in the seats next to us. And no lay-overs in airports not even close to our destination. Driving is perfect.
Believe me, if there is any way to drive anywhere, that’s our preferred method of travel. And both of us look forward to it. This past fall, we went to Gatlinburg with Kristin and the kids. Earlier in the year, we were in Hilton Head. In several weeks, I have to go to the St. Louis area and all of these, in addition to the Greenbrier, are driving trips. Another thing, though, that you should know about our car trips is that we normally take the less travelled roads. Janet, in particular, gets tired rather quickly of toll roads and super highways. She much prefers the two lane roads that wind through the landscape.
Now I don’t want you to think that we don’t care when we arrive – because we do. But we look for a balance between the speed we achieve on highways and the beauty and serenity we get on the back roads. If we aren’t in a hurry, more time in the countryside. Like last year when there was a rockslide and we took a long detour rather than wait in several miles of bumper to bumper traffic. It was well worth the increased time it took. We see sights that we would have missed on the regular route. We are always blessed by taking the roads less travelled.
I learned this from Janet. She doesn’t like being behind the wheel on high speed roads. So when she’s even in the car, we try to take the scenic routes. And if for some reason we must travel the fast track, Janet is very attentive as our navigator and makes it as easy as possible for me to get through to our destination. Places like Charleston, WV have narrow lanes and it’s usually raining in the mountains south of town. So we prepare for those kinds of experiences.
The whole point here is that while we wish to get to the destination, the journey and how we get there is very important to us. Come to think of it, that’s how God wants us to live as well. How we treat others and the decisions we make along the way are very important to Him. And that’s also what God wanted for the Israelites in the Old Testament. He was with them every step of the way, but sometimes the people just didn’t want to follow God’s lead. And many times, because they were God’s chosen people, God took them on the roads less travelled as well.
The verse for tonight is a reminder to keep you eyes on God. In Ex. 13:21, Moses tells us, “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” And that’s what the mandate is for us. Keep your eyes on God – He will always guide you on your journey, by day or by night, on super highways and on the roads less travelled.
My encouragement is that God wants you to keep focused on Him. My prayer is that you can trust that you will never get lost when God is driving. So sit back, enjoy the view and know that you don’t have to worry about the route He’s chosen for you. It’s going to be perfect. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…