Thoughts on the Journey

About eighteen months ago I decided that I really wanted to take my oldest son and go hiking on the North York Moors in England. My wife and I had been there a couple of times and there is something about the area of the world that appeals to me. I wanted to spend some time with my son and I wanted to spend some time in hiking boots walking across those moors. I planned for months, found the hike that looked like the best option for us, bought all the gear, typed out all the route information and had it laminated (it is northern Britain, so I knew I could count on rain), found the places we would stay, all the stuff necessary to have a successful trip. Then I did the hard part, preparing my body for the work of hiking nearly 90 miles in five days. I began going out into the woods here in Asheville and hiking 35 miles a week or so, knowing that the elevation changes on the moors wouldn't compare to what we have in the mountains so I didn't have to hike as much as I would there. I began working out in a gym several days a week as well. Everything went according to plan, I was prepared for what lay ahead of me, and it was a great trip.

When I got back from that trip I cut back on my hiking here and, in fact, hadn't been out in the woods for several months until yesterday and boy, did I pay a price for the lay-off. I have continued working out in the gym but that is a poor substitute for actually hiking on trails. I have blisters on my heels and sore muscles abounding in my lower body. I chose a hike that was perhaps too difficult for my first time back out, and I nearly gave up before I reached my destination (it was an out and back hike).

What I realized as I hiked yesterday was that the Journey of faith is very much like that experience, we need a goal to keep us motivated and on-track. It is no coincidence that Paul uses the image of an Olympic runner who trains his body in order to win the race and get the prize. It is important that we keep the end in mind as we travel what was initially referred to as The Way. If we keep in mind that our goal is "Christ-likeness" then we can focus on what we need to do to get there. If we forget that day by day we are to be moving in that direction, prepping for our eventual destination of the throne of God, we run the risk of spiritual sloth. As I discovered yesterday, if you lack a goal, you lack motivation and getting back in shape, even to regain where you once were, requires hard work. Keep the goal ever before you on the Journey and realize that it isn't a sprint, but a marathon we're running.