The Walk

 I had the privilege last week to spend some time with Bonnie at the beach. With Avery at college it has been really cool to reestablish our identity as husband and wife and not just as mom and dad. 

As most married couples do, we enjoy the beach differently. I am perfectly content with just setting on the beach listening to waves and people watching, or sitting on the porch reading or on the dock fishing. Bonnie enjoys long walks on the beach, and shopping. 

On this last trip, she invited me to join her on her walk to the pier. I knew that this would not be a short walk, but about a 2 mile round trip walk. Even though I am out of shape, and knew that I would be lagging behind a bit, I agreed to go. As we began, it was obvious that she was on a mission. Her mission was to walk to the pier and back. My only goal was to be with her. We were on the same journey, but different goals. She kept her eyes on the goal, which was the pier. I kept my eyes either on her or the scenery that was around me. 

This brought a couple of thoughts to my mind. 

1. Do we realize that even though we may be on the same journey with others, that our goals may different? We really need to take this into account especially in our marriage. Make sure that we communicate what our goals are. We should be helping one another meet our goals as well as making sure that we have some common goals.
2. Are we taking in the scenery? Could it be that we are so goal driven and focused and that we miss the journey? It has been really cool to see where we are after twenty six years of being together and nearly twenty one of those being married. There have been MANY ups and downs, and the scenery hasn't always been pleasant. However, it's our journey, and we've been on it together! 

As many of you know, I also serve a Baptist Association which is a family of churches. All of this applies in that context too! Make sure that everyone knows what the goal is. Everyone should be working toward the same goal, together. We also need to enjoy the journey! Take in the scenery! Don't be so goal driven and focused that you miss what's happening around you! 

So, admittedly the walk back from the pier was more difficult for me. Not just because I was tired, but because there was not visual ending. On the walk to the pier, there was at least visual goal. On the way back, there was just a beach that seemed to go on for miles! 

Keep encouraging one another! Husbands, encourage wife. Wives, encourage your husbands! Husbands, encourage other husbands! Wives, encourage other wives! Follower of Christ, keep encouraging other followers of Christs! Church, encourage other churches! 

'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. '
Hebrews 10:23-25