Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of cattle grazing in pastures, of mountains and rolling hills, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls, of biting winter and blazing summer, of cavorting spring and docile fall.

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But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination - for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So, we restlessly pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

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"Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When I’m eighteen...or when I win that promotion...or when I put the last kid through college...or when I buy that sports car...or when I can finally retire. From that day on, I will live happily ever after!”

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Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an illusion - it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a dream. Yesterday belongs to history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday is a fading sunset, tomorrow is a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.

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So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today that drive us mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

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"Savor the journey" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

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So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot more often.  Eat more ice cream. Sing more songs. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

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