Where are You Going?

Little by little, one travels far. - J.R.R. Tolkien

My very core thrills at the mere thought of traveling. Be it by car, plane or boat {n-o-t train though...ugh! Will.not.do.that.again.if.i .can.help.it.}

Warning: awful cliche coming up.... Ready?

It's about the journey, not the destination. Hey, quit groaning...you were given fair warning!

My college roomie used to say, "they wouldn't be cliche's it they weren't true." Well said oh wise sage. And so, I agree with that cliche because it is true. Not just a grain worth true, but really really true.

Is there anything quite like cruising down the byways, wind do-si-do'ing with your hair as the Allman Brothers serenade the balmy afternoon?

Or how about soaring on an adventure that sweeps your feet 35,000 off the ground at a swift 550 miles an hour.

Ahhh, or my favorite...cascading along a glassy surface, cutting through white capped ridges, rewarded with stingingly refreshing wet bouquets.

This year I have been to the mountains, beach, Central America, a few different states. Oh, but the list goes on...

Spiritually that is. Through peaks and valleys. With myself and others. These kind keep me a tad closer to home...usually on my knees. And I never go on them without my traveling companion...He's attentive and a delightful conversationalist. Here're a few trips we've taken...

I've waded through thick muddy adoption paperwork & rocketed to the moon when sweet one came home to her family.

Crept along the dark recesses of depression with a new mom.

Glided to the heavens on the wings of long-awaited pregnancy news for college sweethearts.

Helped man the helm for a friend threatened to capsize in a tumultuous storm of death.

Ran the ridge of hope with my sister starting a new business.

Speaking as one in the midst of several travels, the journey adds to the exhilaration and thrill of the destination.

Where have you traveled this year?

If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, and then another, then removes both, and lays on a third, heavier, perhaps, than either; but all so wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken.

We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and altogether they have a lesson which is beyond the power of any to teach alone. ~HE Manning