This summer has been quite a journey of traveling to district conventions, visiting relatives, and hosting welcome visitors. When you travel, do you enjoy the journey — or do you just focus on the destination? I hope you enjoy the journey as you look forward to the destination!

If you will, travel with me to the inner workings of my mind. Warning — you may not be able to always follow my train of thought!

Scott and I are putting a patio on the east side of the house. While in the middle of a discussion on the paver pattern, I asked him this question, “What is your ideal picnic lunch?” He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. “Are we now talking about food?” I said, “Of course.” He said, “I never know with you.” He shared that his ideal picnic would be a hotdog and potato salad. I realized that my question may had seemed to come out of nowhere, so I asked him if he worried about his wife’s train of thought. He replied, “No, but sometimes it’s an interesting journey!”

My train of thought does not follow the train tracks. I don’t want to travel so fast that I miss the sights along the way. I like the backroads, where I can stop and photograph the cows along the fence, run through the ditch and into the field to discover what crop is growing, or stop at that historical marker for a look into the past.

Here was where my brain traveled while we were discussing the paver pattern: I was envisioning the completed patio. I thought about how nice it was going to be to enjoy meals outside again (we dismantled the wrap around deck two years ago and this patio will finally bring this project to completion). I began thinking about the gourmet lunch I could make to celebrate our first meal on the patio. Then I realized Scott’s idea of gourmet food may be vastly different than mine and decided he should have input on the menu. That’s how I came to ask him about his ideal picnic!

My journey on this earth will end someday, and my destination is a place in my Lord’s house. I look forward to the peace and joy that I know will surround me as I join thousands worshiping the Lord in heaven — but I also thank God for this journey I’m on right now. He has given me His Word to guide my way, companions that encourage my steps, and an incredible world that allows me a glimpse of the glory of heaven.

We, as Christians, do look forward to going home to Jesus, but the Lord has also given us the gift of this journey on earth. This journey has a purpose — to glorify our Father and share His message of salvation with those around us. Every journey has a purpose, and I propose it is not always the destination. Let your train of thought jump off the tracks once in a while. As you travel through each day, look for the beauty in each moment and thank God for the gift of the journey.

Today, and always, we are surrounded by HIS grace,

Debbie