Keep Pushing Through
Have you ever heard one of your friends or kids bring to your attention that you have not been spending quality (read “quantity”) time with them like you used to? If we are honest, all of us have – even yours truly.
When you start something new, it is easy to get lost in the business of your work. I too, over the past couple of years have had a horrible time trying to define boundaries. So much so that my oldest son in his own way has been clawing to get his time with Papa back. As we were returning home from a Trail Life meeting, I invited my son to join me on a long family business trip. I promised two days of long hours in the car,limited opportunities for play, and only one opportunity to eat a meal at a restaurant. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? My son only wanted to confirm that it would be just the two of us. I confirmed, and he was all in! On day one, we spent 14 hours driving around before we finally retired at an Econolodge. On day two, we spent 15 hours driving around before we returned home and retired in our beds. Not only did each day last longer than expected, I also was unable to deliver on my promise to stop at Bob Evans for a sit-down meal. We just barely made it successfully through a Culvers drive through in Michigan City, Indiana at 9:55pm! I felt like I failed.
One week later, I had to go on another business trip to Michigan. Google projected that the trip would last 16-18 hours. I asked my son if he would be interested in joining me again - fully expecting him to say no. His first expression was absolute defeat! The expression was quickly washed away like a wave taking out a sand castle to a grin of excitement. “I will go if you let me be your navigator with the GPS, and if it only the two of us again.” SOLD!
The trip was a complete and successful adventure. First, we had a significant detour in Detroit due to 2 interchange ramps that were closed and we both missed just one detour sign. **Perhaps the detour is another story for another day** Second, my navigator and I encouraged – on accident – several other detours because we were not paying attention to the turn-by-turn instructions. Finally, in Lapeer county, it rained so hard that we literally could not see the vehicles and road in front of us. Did we make it to Bob Evans for supper? Not at all! I incorrectly recalled the location of the restaurant on our way home. Did we make it to Culvers? Yes, with only 4 minutes to closing and a half a gallon of gas in the Escape’s tank! With food and fuel, we completed our journey at 1:15am – a full 21 hours and 15 minutes later.
Questions to Ponder
Each one of our lives are filled with relationships that need cultivating. Each one of our lives are filled with myriads of hard choices. Each one of our lives are filled will consequences for choices we make and choices that others make for us. Each one of us gets to decide how we will respond.
1. Who in your life needs more quality (read “quantity”)time with you? How will you pursue them?
2. Are your finances like my weekend adventures with my son – your best laid intentions waylaid by detours, inattentiveness,and storms? How will you persevere even if it takes you much longer than you had anticipated?
3. In 1915, Elbert Hubbard once said, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” How will you take your long hours, projections of other people’s expectations, and fear of the unknown to create “a complete and successful adventure”?
To weathering the long-haul journey well!