The Journey vs. The Destination
A HIking Devotional
Nothing kills the joy of hiking faster than being obsessed with the summit. Don't get me wrong – reaching the top feels amazing. But if you spend the entire hike with your head down, grinding toward the peak, you'll miss the wildflowers, the views, the random conversations with fellow hikers, and that perfect rock where you should've stopped for lunch.
I've watched people march past waterfalls because they were "behind schedule." I've seen hikers so focused on their GPS that they missed a family of deer twenty feet away. They reached their destination alright, but they missed the journey entirely.
We do this with following Jesus too. We get so focused on being "good Christians" or reaching some spiritual summit that we miss the whole point. We turn faith into a checklist, relationships into networking, and service into résumé-building. We're hiking toward heaven with our heads down, missing the joy of the journey.
Jesus had a different approach. In Luke 10:20, when his disciples got excited about their spiritual achievements, he basically said, "Yeah, that's cool, but don't miss the bigger picture – rejoice that your names are written in heaven." But he also showed them what the journey looked like in Matthew 11:28-29: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart."
Jesus seemed to enjoy the process. He lingered over meals, told stories, noticed people others overlooked. He was headed somewhere important, but he wasn't in such a hurry that he missed the point of the trip.
This Week's Challenge: Pick one routine part of your week and try to be more present in it instead of just getting through it. Whether it's your commute, a conversation, or a chore, look for what you might be missing by rushing toward the next thing.
Questions for Reflection:
When you think about your goals or dreams, do you tend to focus more on reaching them or enjoying the process of getting there?
What's one "waterfall" (beautiful moment, meaningful conversation, simple pleasure) that you've rushed past recently because you were focused on something else?
If following Jesus is more about the journey than reaching a destination, how might that change the way you approach your faith day-to-day?
The summit is great, but the trail is where life happens.