I love the heat of the battle. Wits on high alert; moves and counter moves. Everything poised for the essential strike. When the dust settles, one always anticipates the sweet balms of the goal, the quiet shores of paradise. Not always, but frequently enough, the destination is somewhere you realize did not really matter in the scheme of things. The battle was just that, a battle between two camps. The results did not matter, the issues were not important, and the point of it all is hidden from everyone involved.
An email came in asking me to attend a conference call the other day. Given two conflicts I sent a response asking to postpone the meeting by one day. The answer was blunt and angry. At first, I was stunned, which then turned into annoyance. A battle was just asking to happen! A quick telephone call answered everything. One receiver had misread the message and reacted angrily. I laughed, we talked, and everything got back on track.
It would have been so easy to fight. Last night when we got together, he insisted on pointing out where my use of English was leading him to the wrong conclusion. As we looked together, we both laughed. The words were fine. The problem was all with the reader.
Destinations are funny things. We misread things and fight. We take shortcuts because we think results are more important than process. Trust is a word about which we rarely think. Listening is a rare commodity.
There is a stark contrast in where our lives will end. “The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good.” (Proverbs 2.22) In contrast, the followers of God will realize the full potential of their lives. Those who walk with the Spirit will experience the fruits of God – mercy, compassion, unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
I saw the potential foolishness of one destination. Today is a fresh opportunity to walk with God and live out His truths. I am looking forward to the process and the destination! Come join me.
