And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
Exodus 13:21 NKJV
Last week I endured enjoyed a “road trip” with my oldest who is now safely deposited in Iowa. This week, I’ll drive to sunny Orlando to get the second born tucked away as well. Racking up the miles, I recognized similarities between life and various portions of my “road trip.”
Driving I-75 to Nashville, the mountains of Tennessee reminded me that we all have ups and downs. Sometimes the journey is perilous. Often, roads are winding and we can’t see what’s around the next bend. There may be times where there is no exit when you need one. We may be forced to maneuver, white knuckled and all, around two-ton hazards and pray for the best.
Moving on to St. Louis demonstrated there is always the other side to the hardest part of any journey. Life eventually evens out. We may face inclement weather and unexpected delays. Still, if we plod along, we make it through our storms and find our dark clouds behind us.
Finally, riding along US-61 we came upon blue skies and bright clouds. The sky was picturesque as Cam and I rode through lush farmlands and took in vistas unlike any other.
We don’t always know what awaits us at the end of our journey, still, we will never find out unless we have faith enough to continue.
We may experience fender benders or catastrophic collisions. We can become blindsided through no fault of our own.
I pondered all of this after I was safely home watching the clouds go by.
The ups and downs, twists and turns, hazards and detours forced me to concede life isn’t always easily navigated.
“You can’t move forward if you keep looking back.” I heard deep inside.
I’ve been looking back alot these past months, reflecting and pondering “could haves” and “should haves.”
Analysis paralysis, holding me captive.
I’ve traveled thousands of miles these past few weeks but not really moving forward.
It’s time to get moving again.
Forward.
What about you?
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV
B Is for Blessed! 
Great reminder..I often look back instead of forward.
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Me too! I’m working on it!
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LIlka, thank you again for sharing your journey, and showing us how the Lord is with us to keep us moving forward and upward. Blessings for the next move.
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Thanks so much Mrs. Frances! Peace and blessings to you as well.
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Hello, my dear friend Lilka I was thinking of Your two boys and my two boys and I came up with the greatest thought. Be still and Know that I am God. He give us different reason to love him, but yet still he loves us the same. Along time ago I would have said what the crap. Know I say Faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.
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Amen Mrs. Phyllis! So good to hear from you.
That is definitely a Word for me today as I sat on the front porch thinking about my Mommy and my “baby.” I was thinking about the “things yet unseen” and how God has faithfully brought us this far. You are right, I just have to be still and know that He is indeed God. With Him nothing is impossible. In spite of the bad, I’m believing for the best.
Love you! 🙂
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Wonderful! You were not far from my “neck of the woods” as we say in Tennessee. 😉 This was a good reminder today. I’m a bit (well, maybe more than a bit) discouraged for a variety of reasons. Thanks so much for sharing! Your ending verse is among my favorites – and one I needed to hear today.
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So glad to hear it Heather. Try to end the week on a good note. It always levels out in the end. Today’s worries eventually fade away. 🙂
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So very true! And sometimes,I just need to get to bed earlier or take a nap. 😉 I did get a chance to play with my camera a bit yesterday. Thought of you because I was stalking a beautiful dragonfly with lavender tipped wings. He’ll probably make a cameo on my blog someday…
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Naps are lifesavers! They keep me from hurting my loved ones!
So glad you were able to get in a little camera time. I’ve yet to get good pics of one this summer. Still trying though 😉
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Naps are definitely lifesavers for me (and my family), too!!
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