We’ve probably all heard someone say “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” Riiiiiight, the whole purpose of the journey is the destination isn't it?…or is it?
I just completed a 1,000 mile plus road trip on my Harley and it's probably the last long trip I will make on that bike because I am selling it to raise money for my world race. The whole purpose of the trip(in my mind at least) was to see some friends in Charlotte and then head to Murfreesboro, TN where I’d be under the needle for a few hours getting my newest tattoo. That was the plan, but it did not quite work out that way. Let’s start from the beginning, it couldn’t have started any better:
God is an artist who needs no filter, and He painted the sky for me the morning I left my house. It's times like these that I am reminded that the same God who paints the sky is the same God who intricately wove you and I piece by piece.
I made it to Charlotte that afternoon and met up with a good buddy of mine, Dank. He has a real name, but we'll just use his call sign. The Dank was my pointman for Bounty Hunter II and I was his team leader during our deployment to Haditha/Hit, Iraq in 2008. Since then, he's become a senior salt dog and decorated war veteran. This dude is no joke an American hero, and has saved many Marines lives in combat. It's funny how no matter how much older people get, you'll always remember them how they were when you first met them. To this day I still see him as an that 18 year old kid that got our team lost in the middle of the dark during a sandstorm in Iraq.
I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet Conas family. His wonderful mother cooked us some "Mountain Warfare Chicken" and it was a pleasure to finally meet his family after all these years.
I also had the opportunity to hang out with another guy from my team that year, Ross. Ross was my saw gunner and was also deployed with Dank after I got out of active duty. Ross and I hit up Elevation church on Sunday and had an opportunity to hear Steven Furtick preach on their new series "Greater". If you ever have a chance to check out Elevation church, do it, their worship experience is different but in a big enjoyable way 🙂 Ross is a talented web designer, and if you have anything you need done you should give him an opportunity, you won't be disappointed.
Lastly I had a chance to meet up with some friends of my parents from their college days. Larry and Linda are two wonderful people that were able to encourage me in my upcoming journey, and pray for me in the parking lot of a pizza hut as well. A stranger was concerned that we were praying in the parking lot but its all good, that's just how we do things, there is no shame in talking to the Father wherever you're at. I have a feeling that the meeting I had with these two is just the start of something to come. I enjoyed our conversation and learned a lot. Larry is also a veteran of OIF an OEF, and spent almost as much time in the military as I've been alive. He's another American hero.
And then my journey continued on to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, two of the best places in Tennessee if you ask me. If you get a chance to see these 2 places, go.
After leaving Pigeon Forge we were on our way to get my tattoo! That was the whole point of the trip! And after driving 3 hours to make my tattoo appointment, I found out the artist was injured last night in a freak accident. So there would be no tattoo for me…
I'd usually be a lot more frustrated after my plan didn't work out exactly the way I wanted it too, but God has been showing me some things over the last few days. While riding nearly 16 hours on my bike God had been speaking to me, and he had been urging me to set aside my desire to get to my destination as quick as possible and instead to simply relax and enjoy the ride. I did my best to listen while still maintaining a speed of 90mph. But I don't know how many times I slowed down to the speed limit and looked up just to gaze at the beauty of the sky, or looked around just to see the beauty of the trees and mountains. My Harley has been one of my prized possessions in life, but I've realized it has just been the tool that has used to take me around the country to see Gods handiwork and beauty.
Psalms 19:1 reminds us
"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
As I enter a new season in life I'll remember to slow down, lay off the throttle, and take a look around. I plan to enjoy the ride and the beauty that God will place around me on the path he has placed before me. I am looking forward to those times when I realize that truly it is about the journey.
How about you? What trip have you planned to see your friends or family but haven't got around to yet? Why not get out of the house, hop in that car and enjoy the ride? You'll never know what God might say to you along the way…
Ah yeah, and lastly. I did learn a lot on this trip and not all of it was spiritual. I learned that to your face, a leaf at 90mph or a butterfly at 65mph feel about the same 🙂
