I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road
God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands.
I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark
that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but
steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at
noticing differences and quick at mending fences. - The Message
So, I was reading Paul's instructions to the church in Ephesians and I came across the above early in the fourth chapter. At the time, Paul is locked up in prison (again) and does not want folks waiting around for him. He says, go do your thing. Get on with it. Roll.
I'm not sure if I find these few verses appealing because I spend so much time traveling or if it is because I've always liked Paul's use of sports in his writing. In this case, I think it is the traveling note that rings true with me.
When I travel, I like to get where I am going efficiently. There is a goal and that is my pursuit. If I sit on my hands, or stroll down some other path I will loose focus on the purpose of the trip. The aim is to do it and do it well. I try to be rested and ready so that I can do the things that I need to do with excellence and return home safely.
At the same time, an alertness is needed to what is going on around me. If I place my needs first I may offend others when traveling. I may overlook opportunities. If I forget to act in love I can just be a bull charging down the chute. What good is that? And what of mending fences? In other words, if my only goal is the end of the journey I will miss the great things that happen as part of the journey.
Occasionally I post something on this blog about an event or person that I came across heading down the road. I've come to enjoy these moments during the journey. My life is richer and I trust I have made a few lives richer on the way. I pray that I am doing what we are told to do while heading down the road. And if you look at the path before you, I believe you can apply the same truth.
In his instructions Paul points out that we are all called to travel spiritually. To do so, we must have a place to go, an objective. Where are you going? And who will you meet along the way? Kind of exciting, isn't it? Let's make sure we stay off our hands. Godspeed.