Weekly Thought – November 12, 2013
Fred and Mary Alice showed their three children the country, teaching them the value of travel. However, Fred was influenced by his love of efficiency and looked at family road trip from the “How fast can I get from A to B?” perspective. They whizzed past national monuments, teepee tourist courts, and must see stops. Later he realized the children chose to enjoy the journey, not play beat the clock with their own family trips.
Planning is underway for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL. on February 20, 21, 2014. Please join in prayer with us. Thank you for your continuing encouragement.
Choose A Pleasant Road
Too often, after selecting our destination, and making our plans, we fail to look at all the possible ways of getting there. Recently, on the West Coast, I decided to turn off the interstate and follow an exciting scenic route. Generally we miss the byways and endure the highways to “save time.”
Is time always that important?
Sometimes we become so goal-oriented we forget to consider the ways of getting there. The road should be interesting. We spend much more time on the trip than at the destination. Why shouldn’t it bring satisfaction? Remember, this isn’t always the fastest route. Learn the joy of the journey and amplify the value and benefit of the goal.
I once traveled in Switzerland with a high driving business associate. As we left each hotel, he would ask the concierge the travel time to the next stop. Then, he set out to beat the standard time by at least 15 minutes. We flew around curves, through quaint villages, and through Swiss landscape at breakneck speed. I am sure he met his goals, but we breathlessly blew through one of the world’s most beautiful countries seeing nothing but a wild-flowered blur.
With contrition I admit to a similar habit when our children were young and seated in the backseat of the car. In the 50s we traveled from Cincinnati to Los Angeles in a non-air-conditioned vehicle, minimum stops, and absolutely no sight-seeing. “There’s the Grand Canyon, kids! No, we can’t stop….we are on a schedule.” How I regret making the goal, but sacrificing the joy!
Many of my friends delayed enjoying life until retirement. Sadly, bad health or the death of a spouse cancelled those plans. They raced so fast and hard to get to the end they missed the pleasant road.
This week consider: 1) How prone am I to race from A to B? 2) When was the last time I picked a byway? 3) Who needs to hear this?
Words of Wisdom: “Learn the joy of the journey and amplify the value and benefit of the goal.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.” (Proverbs 3:17 NET Bible)