Shared Journey

There are sacred places in all our journeys. For many of us here in this area of Texas it just might have been Mount Wesley. For my children, it was Sacramento. For you, some other place where during the summer for a week you spent getting to know God a little better, making new friends, avoiding old ones, and getting to know yourself a little better. It was at Mt. Wesley that I came to sense my call into ordained ministry. My faith was always confirmed there and I enjoyed the company of those who wore the Methodist brand proudly. We didn't all agree, but we had fun. It was the shared journey. If all were still alive and could be called back for one hour I know the journey for each of us had taken us in different directions. The shared-ness would be our destination, still the same and shared with all humanity; the certainty of leaving this earth. The purpose of those weeks during those summers was to teach us how to live better lives and to know of the love of a God who wants to see us return home. I pray that we have not lost that part of our destination.

Whatever bumps or obstacles have come along your journey, think back to those days for the inspiration and charge you might need to go just some more miles forward, and with God's help, upward. Lend a helping hand, open a loving heart, and speak loving and encouraging words to each other. This journey from ashes to ashes is best traveled with deep love for God, self, and neighbors.