By Maurie Cashman
Is life a journey or a destination? I had a few experiences this week that helped to crystalize that question for me.
First, I found out that a dear friend was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He took an incredibly courageous and optimistic approach to his situation. The initial prognosis was dire. However, he has a great medical team and the news has gotten progressively better.
What I really learned was the incredible power of faith and an outlook on life. The first thing he sent was a song basically extolling the power of the journey as opposed to our society’s relentless pursuit of goals. Even in extreme sickness he is learning and passing on his learnings to the rest of us. I am very proud of him and ask you to remember him in your prayers.
“As I went down to the river to pray
Studying about the good ‘ol way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way.â€
-Allison Kraus
On a MUCH lesser basis I have been dealing with some health issues with my mother that have been a bit frustrating, but a learning experience. She is doing wonderfully, but there is a definite lesson to be learned about aging. It is something that we should each be preparing for long in advance, both mentally and financially. 70% of the people who have ever reached the age of 65 in the history of the world are alive today. We have never experienced this and it is going to create extreme consequences.
Finally, I had the opportunity to do two back to back 90-mile bike rides with my sister. She is preparing for an Iron Man. When I finished yesterday, I did not feel elation or victory (my sister smoked me). However, I did feel a sense that I accomplished something that I did not think I was capable of. And while everyone else thinks I’m crazy, that feels pretty darn good.
It was not a sprint, it was a journey. I was tired, sore, dehydrated and the wind was blowing in my face seemingly the whole time. But I made it by focusing on one more turn of the wheel. The second day I was more sore but better prepared for the journey and it helped me pull through it. And I put the old gospel song by Allison Kraus song I am quoting on repeat.
That is what I wish for my friend. That he can make this journey with a goal of recovery and the flexibility to handle the difficulties he will experience along the way. We would all do well to have a long-term goal and plan as to how we are going to navigate the journey. We need to have a lot of flexibility to adjust those goals and plans as God may have other thoughts about our purpose.
“O sinners let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
O sinners let’s go down
Down in the river to prayâ€
-Allison Kraus
Down To The River To Pray / ALISON KRAUSS from porabb1 on GodTube.