At times the greatest part of an adventure is the destination,
but let's not forget all that transpires On the Way.
Step through this looking glass and experience Simon Peter, Andrew, and James adventure from their side of the story.
"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee" Luke 17:11.
The text went out, "On the way." I was running late for a meeting with friends. I had a destination in mind and I wanted to convey a message that informed my friends I would be there soon, and I value their companionship.
My daughter sent out the same text just the other day. We were meeting for lunch. "On the way," the text read. I had picked up my mother and we were traveling down Mingo Street between Memorial and Garnett. Children were playing at the school playground. Cars were stopping and going at each intersection. The day was cooler than in the recent summer months, and I was enjoying this adventure until the reserve gas tank light blinked red. I stopped to fill up with gas because my mom did not want to live on the wild side. She did not want to hike anywhere to fetch a can of much needed fuel. We stopped and filled the car so that we could continue on to our destination. The journey to lunch was pleasant even though it was interrupted by plaguing blinking lights, but it wasn't as delightful as sitting at lunch with my daughter and mom.
"On the way." It's a simple text really, consisting of three short words a first grader can read. They are easy to type out and seem to be the universal text to let people know you are running late for a meeting. You have a specific destination and a specific time to be there. Three little words containing important information to inform people you are coming.
The scenery along the way may be pleasant, the weather comfortable, and you may enjoy watching all the people who cross your path. Your escapade may be fraught with unpleasant interruptions, but the journey is not the purpose of your travel. The final destination is your endgame.
We set out to our different destinations day by day, some days enjoying the ride other times not so much. We shift from one hip to the other during a twenty hour road trip. We get lost because we couldn't clarify the exits Google maps instructed us to take, and get confused as to how we landed at this intersection. The car behind us slams into our bumper because we have forgotten to signal for a left turn. The automobile shop informs us that our car is totaled because we forgot to use our rear view camera to see obstructions that lie behind us, or because we hit a patch of transparent ice and slide through the stop sign with oncoming traffic.
There are many roads chosen on this journey through life. The different roads we each take lead somewhere. We come upon varying intersections, and at times we may even meet one another at those intersections. Our vehicles glide by each other on freeways and toll roads. We bump along potholes, and have to pause to fill up with gas. The brakes of our cars squeal because we are riding them during traffic jams.
Life has become hard to navigate because of all the obstacles, but over two thousand years ago God sent a text of love into our world. "ON THE WAY." He sent us a Savior who came from heaven to earth to lead us as we travel. Because God so loved the world, He gave us His only Son to reroute us when we were lost. Jesus came to show us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
