Is it the Journey or the Destination?

My 9th graders are reading the Odyssey and so I am rereading the epic poem. The unit begins with a question: IS IT THE JOURNEY OR THE DESTINATION? I honestly did not bother presenting this question to my class, but it's been lingering at the back of my mind for weeks and then popped up the other night as I watched a movie called The Way.

The movie draws few similarities to Homer's Odyssey, but nevertheless, the themes seem to revolve around the same question. Martin Sheen stars in his son's [Emilio] film about a father paying homage to his deceased son who died on a pilgrimage across France and Spain to the Atlantic Ocean. Not only is the film visually striking (who doesn't like rolling hills and quaint villages with remnants of the Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic architecture?) but the actors bring desperate characters to life.

Although the pilgrimage is usually a spiritually journey, each character has their own unique reason for trekking the El Camino de Santiago (the way of St. James). Along the way, Martin Sheen's character picks up 3 tag-alongs who seem to be more of a disturbance to him. One of his unwelcome companions likes to take the route slowly, enjoying each rounded bend in the road, each new scenic change, and each village's food speciality. In contrast, Martin Sheen walks briskly, with purpose and determination to reach the end of the El Camino.

While watching this film I kept thinking- what IS more important? At times, I feel as though I am constantly looking forward to the destination and in doing so, I forget the journey. I forget to notice the beauty that surrounds me, the people whom I love, and the conversations I have. So in this way, I believe the journey should be valued and treasured. However, God does not want us to get caught up in worldly materials. Our ultimate destination is in Heaven with our Lord Savior who has given us life. How can the journey be more important than that?

I have come to this conclusion: Both are equally important. The trick is learning to balance the two in perfect harmony (something I have difficulty with). But the journey is nothing without The Mission. Our mission as Christians is the reason we have a journey and destination to look forward to.  Enjoy what God has given you on this journey of life! Enjoy the moments you have to further His kingdom.

Which is more important to you?

Being brave

I wanted to be an actress because I would be able to be anything and anyone. There are so many things I wish I could be. Some days, I randomly think about being a firefighter or doctor or lawyer. If you know me well, these professions probably wouldn't work out so well. I prefer cooler weather, I close my eyes on shows like Grey Anatomy, and I hate to argue. But with no acting career in sight, this may be the reason I have turned to writing.

When reading a book I am transported through space and time, navigating through worlds of science fiction, romance, or mystery. My attempts at writing fiction are slow going. Ideas are often easy to develop but the resolutions are like mist. I just cannot grasp them. So, now I have thought more and more about other forms of writing, but I must be brave. I do not have a degree in journalism or even creative writing, so jobs in reporting seem unattainable. But I am going to try my hand at freelancing.

I must take a step out of the familiar and stretch myself. I must not fear rejection. I must not fear the fact that I may not have ideas. I must be brave.

The stone was rolled away...

On this cloudy Easter Sunday my thoughts filed through younger years of sunny, crisp white and yellow Easters when my mom and dad left baskets on the fireplace where I would always find chocolate covered bunnies in a bed of colorful plastic grass. For whatever reason, I never thanked the Easter bunny like I would Santa Claus. I knew my parents bought those precious goodies for me and my sisters. Our bite sized congregation always had a joyous service followed with an egg hunt where a pack of shiny white shoes rushed the field next to the church. After the service most years we would then travel to our grandparent's house for another egg hunt with the competitive cousins who would count each egg, coin, and dollar to see who won.

I knew Easter wasn't about the pastel eggs and chocolate bunnies, but the celebration sometimes gets in the way of the true meaning of Easter just as fancy presents can blind us from the reason of Christmas. Believers will watch the Passion of the Christ on this day to remind themselves of the pain, sadness, and even injustice that occurred that Passover. However, the end of the movie hints at the true joy and victorious reason of Easter. Shouldn't that empty tomb be our focus? Jesus was alive! Jesus conquered the enemy: death! Jesus buried our sins and then resurrected so that WE can live with him in his kingdom!

This is the true meaning of Easter. Be rejoiced, be confident, be forgiving because the stone was rolled away.