Life is a Journey

Life is a journey. I’ve said that before and probably will say it many more times. It is how I like to view life. A journey has a beginning and a destination —note, not an end but a destination. An end has a finality about it, a destination is the beginning of a new adventure, the beginning of a new journey.

Actually, to describe more accurately how I look at life would be to say it is an over-arching journey. One big journey that encompasses many smaller journeys —childhood is a journey, parenthood is a journey, each phase of ministry is a journey, each career is a journey, retirement is a journey. . . 

Even within each of my examples are multiple journeys. Journeys within journeys!

Today is Ascension Sunday. As I read the various lectionary readings I thought how in the church’s calendar, the time between Easter and ascension typifies a journey. Ascension is celebrated forty days after Easter. I’m not sure that this is a literal number, as forty is a typical Biblical number for significant events —forty days in the wilderness, forty days of lent. 

Regardless, I want to look briefly at the forty-day journey that began at Easter and reached its destination with ascension. Journeys are not usually straight roads, but full of highs and lows, twists and turns. I want to think about this journey from the viewpoint of those early followers of Jesus. Those people who had been on a journey accompanying Jesus for a few short years. They had left families and careers to do so, they had seen miracles, they had been taught and trained, they’d been exalted and ridiculed. What a journey!

Yet, the destination had not been what they expected. The destination had been death and crucifixion. So, their next journey which was to last only forty short days started on an incredible low. I cannot imagine the depths of despair they must have reached as their hopes and expectations of a Messiah ended on a cross. 

Sometimes that happens in life, one embarks on a journey full of excitement and expectations only to reach an unexpected destination. It can be quite devastating, but often, like the mythological phoenix, something rises from the ashes —a new journey begins with all the hope and expectation rekindled. I have always loved the way C. S. Lewis expresses in in The Last Battle —"Their hearts leaped and a wild hope arose within them” (228)

For those early followers, Easter Sunday began that new journey. Hope and expectation were rekindled. The scriptures only give a glimpse of those forty days —some walks together, some conversations and a shared meal. What an adventure those forty days must have been! 

But like all journeys it reached a destination, yet another unexpected turn. The risen Christ ascended. This time maybe it was not so devastating. They had been given hope and promises for the future. So, in great anticipation those followers left the place of ascension and returned to where they were staying. There they would wait for empowerment, full of expectation the next journey was soon to begin. 

This, too, happens in life. I have also experienced it. Sometimes the destination is planned and reached. It is time for the next adventure to begin. But, as in the experience of those present at the ascension, the destination can be unplanned but not devastating, unexpected but not traumatic merely different than assumed. It is time to wait for the next journey to be embarked upon. 

Life is a journey — enjoy the adventure!

(Photo: Holocaust Memorial, Cornell Botanical Gardens)

“Do not let not your heart be troubled.”

“Do not let not your heart be troubled.”

These words open the lectionary gospel passage today (John 14: 1-14). As I read them, I paused and mused them over. Just eight short words yet so relevant for today when such turmoil is surrounding the nations of the world.

My immediate response to reading these was —how? How do I prevent my heart being troubled, day by day, moment by moment?

My heart is not troubled constantly but worry rears its head several times a week.  I’m sure everyone experiences this. Perhaps, more especially during this time of universal crisis. 

On a personal level my heart is troubled when I think about my children all of whom are still travelling to their places of work during the pandemic thus being exposed. I think about other family members including a 93-year-old mother who is isolated but still vulnerable. I think about my dog who is suffering an illness that he won’t recover from. I think about the unemployment and loss of businesses that is affecting family members. 

On a wider level my heart is troubled by what is happening in the world. As time goes on —we personally have been in social isolation for forty-eight days — uncertainty seems to be the underlying message. Often those leading nations and the medical advisors seem to be in conflict as to the best way to proceed. As always crisis seems to bring out the best in people and the worst in people. 

Of course, my heart is troubled by far more than the brief things I have mentioned. I wonder, what other people’s hearts are troubled about?

I’m not sure that having an untroubled heart will ever be attainable. It seems to me it is unrealistic to expect that. In life things will happen that will cause unrest and anxiety. These are often unexpected and unplanned for. Andy and I planned what a great summer this was going to be. My sisters were coming in June, it is more than a dozen years since they have been here. Then family from Thailand were coming in July. Now the plans have changed, of course I prefer everyone staying safe, but my heart is sad and troubled by it.

So, I don’t think having one’s heart troubled can be avoided. It feels unrealistic to say that. I think it is part of our humanity, thus, I have to say, God-given. Therefore, when I read “do not let not your heart be troubled “, I view it more about how it shouldn’t overwhelm me. How can I ensure that my heart being troubled doesn’t move from a normal part of human-ness to an unhealthy preoccupation?

I find it helpful to set this verse into context. It was placed immediately after discourses about very troubling things — the prediction of Jesus’ death, the betrayal and the denial. Heavy stuff that would unsettle anyone. 

Therefore, the rest of the text is penned to offer comfort to the disciples. I gleaned two ideas from the passage which may be helpful in the midst of troubling times

The first is hope in the future. In the passage this is shown in the conversation between Thomas and Jesus (2-7). Hope is always important in trying not to let a troubled heart overwhelm one. Hope brings about a confidence for the future. 

The second is in the exchange between Phillip and Jesus (8-11). Jesus is recorded as talking to Phillip about finding the father-mother in him. As I read it, I mused about finding Christ (God) in all things and all persons — not the easiest thing to do sometimes. Yet, if my heart is troubled and I look and find Christ in the situation — however tenuous that might be —it is a way forward. A way not to let a heart be overwhelmed by sorrow. 

Talking about troubled hearts is all a little depressing therefore I will end with some words from the lectionary psalm for today:

[God] you are my rock and my stronghold (31:3).