The Journey

Life clearly is a journey and at times not one easily traveled. It almost seems trite for me to have written that last sentence but it doesn't make it any less true. My high school graduating class chose the following proverb for our grad theme, "A journey of a 1000 miles must begin with a single step" - a quote by Lao Tzu.

And so, we journey on one step at a time; facing the challenges, the joys, the struggles of life. I've always enjoyed watching nature programs on channels like the Discovery Channel but it has often seemed that life for animals seems at times so hopeless. The classic series Trials of Life - reveal the savagery of primates in the jungle or hopeless swim of a seal pursued by a killer whale.

To me - it seems we have more purpose than simply being on a journey. Ultimately there is a destination but I don't think that is all there is to life either. Life is more than just dying and getting to Heaven. I think a big part of our purpose and existence has to do with our relationships with others, with the people we meet along our path. Life is about being a voice to others and somehow functioning as community, as fellow sojourners. Clearly that is counter to what much of the world says, after all life is all about my choices, my wants, my desires, my individuality - right?

What are our voices & actions saying to others? Are we able to step outside our own shoes and actually engage other people in real conversations? Are we being an encouragement to others or do we instead take away & steal the pride of others? Are we bearers of life or death?

We hear a lot of voices on our journey - some good, some bad, and yes to borrow a Clint Eastwood movie title & idiom - some just plain ugly! Living through Junior High (or puberty for that matter) is a lot like living as a chimpanzee in the jungle or a seal in a whale-infested sea. Survival of the fittest! Eat or be eaten. As someone involved in youth ministry for over a decade, I have seen a lot of hurting youth and some of them continue to feel the effect of this hurt into their young adulthood. They still bear the scars of hurt, of taunts, of mental & even carry some deep spiritual wounds. And many are still bleeding. Those voices still echo in their ears as adults - "you will fail, you are not good enough, you are ugly, you are stupid..." These words were never meant to be spoken, never mind heard or thought or believed.

It is time for each of us to be voices of healing, of hope, of love, of bringing people back from the dead. It is time to wake up and stop walking alone on this journey. Life is not just about me, myself or I! We need to stop living the lie we are fed in our public schools, on television, by our law courts, and governments that life is all about the individual and our rights. In reality life is about the human race & how we engage others in relationship on this planet we live on.