“I know there are people that do not like to travel very much. Especially some that has little children. Are we there yet is the cry frequently heard from the back seat of your vehicle. Stopping at every other exit for a gift shop, bathroom break, or to fuel up are things that drive some people crazy. However, there are those that are challenged to see if they can break their best time record to make it from point “A” to point “B”. So the bottom line is that you have to determine is the journey worth the destination.

My family and I love to travel. A couple years ago we decided to take our family vacation out west. Our journey would take us into Phoenix, Arizona and then we would drive through two of our countries national parks, Zion and Grand Canyon. We as a family were excited never having seen what was in store for us. As we were driving towards the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona we drove on relatively flat lands surrounded by a sparse pine forest. Gradually, the forest begins to thin out, and then out of nowhere, there it is, the Grand Canyon. WOW! This is definitely a bucket list item for everyone. We pulled into the parking lot, got out of our rental vehicle, and walked out onto the site seeing platform. The sites to behold were awesome.  After about fifteen minutes of looking in awe and amazement, my son who was fourteen years old at the time, said, “Okay, can we go, its just a big hole.” Working, saving money, planning, setting schedules, reserving flights, and coordinating hotels all to be stopped in time with one statement. Had all our effort came to this? Just looking at a big hole in the ground? No, we continued our family vacation and had a great time. However, this makes me stop and think. What are you expecting at the end of the journey you are currently on?

We all start working with an end in mind, RETIREMENT! We all walk paths that take each of us on our own journey. If you don’t prepare for the journey, your destination can be problematic. Whether it is retirement, marriage, your job, your family, or your eternal destination, you must pay attention along the way to make sure you are doing the right things to finish well. Proverbs 27:12 put’s this into perspective: ‘The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (NIV) Are you being prudent and preparing for your future or are you being simple and going to suffer tomorrow for your choices today?

So ask yourself some important questions!

1. Am I ready to step out into eternity if I were to die today?
2. Am I storing up treasures here on earth or up in heaven?
3. Am I putting forth the efforts in my personal relationships with my spouse, fiancé, girlfriend/boyfriend, to make our relationship last forever?
4. Am I spending time building relationships with my children early to make sure they want to be around me later?
5. Am I putting forth the loyalty in my job to insure my future?

John 14:6 states it best! Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

By: Chaplain Tom Tyer F-813″