I Was Unprepared for the Journey

It seems as if life has already passed with intense swiftness.  As I approach my 40th birthday, I feel as if I am just starting my journey.  Why did the intentness of my journey not begin earlier?  Why has it taken until my children are half-grown before I finally see the path more clearly?  It is easy to look at others and be discouraged by my placement in this race. I see so many ahead of me who have clearly trained for many years.  They have what looks like the perfect physique.  They have on the perfect clothes made for running.  They have obviously done their research and have shoes made for their journey.  They have a backpack filled with anything they may need along the way.

 I look down and see that I have just flip-flops on my feet.  At times, it begins to get cold and I forgot my jacket.  (Oh how I hate the cold!)  Why wasn't I more prepared for the obstacles of this race? I had been told so many times before, but just like so many others in their youth, I failed to listen.  So I am now faced with learning to prepare for this journey.  I have stepped up to some closed-toe shoes.  Maybe one day I will have the really expensive ones, made specifically for my feet, but right now, these are so much better.  Others have generously shared a jacket.  They knew there would be others needing help along the way, so they brought extra.  Somehow there is never a lack of gifts on this journey; the more I look, the more I see many who are helping others.  They never run out of their own supplies.  In fact, the more they give, the more they have.  What a miraculous place this is!

What is this place, you may say?  This is the beautiful path to Heaven.  This is the race before me.  I, like many others, have been unprepared for the journey to reach God's eternal reward.  I wore my flip-flops instead of sturdy walking shoes.  I didn't study my bible and learn scriptures as I should have.  Oh yes, I heard the bible all of my life.  I learned all the "bible stories" growing up.  I know many things and when I get to a scripture, I know it.  Can I tell you where to find those verses I know?  Sadly, no.  Why am I 40 years old and unable to do more?  ...because I chose not to stay focused on the reward ahead of me.  The importance of my journey was not as clear to me as it has become now.  Yes, I was more prepared than others.  Some would look at me and think I had all the answers.  They would say all the things I had done right.  They would think I was one of those who had spent several hundred dollars on my shoes.  In reality, the pair I have is just from Walmart.  They will work for a little while, but I must continue to work to afford a better pair before these wear out! 

I have had many thoughts in the last few years.  I want to work harder to reach the incredible reward God has prepared for me.  The sacrifice for me was so great...how could I have ever taken that for granted?  When I get to the end of my day and find I haven't cracked open my bible or taken time to talk to God in prayer...that is taking that sacrifice for granted!  How about you?  Do you feel like I do?  Do you want to do better?  Sometimes it seems there is so much I need to correct, it is hard to know where to begin.  Take this journey with me.  It doesn't matter what age you are or where you are in your life.  This is the best race of all.  It isn't who finishes first...it is just about finishing.  We will stumble, but we must get back up and continue on our journey...our race towards and eternal reward.