Joyce Meyer came to Tacoma in late May, and I went down to her last session on Saturday morning.  I used to catch her on TV every once in a while, and I love how her messages have evolved over time.  She’s transitioned into discussing life lessons rather than sticking to the hellfire and brimstone doctrine of her youth.  I find her funny, honest, and often self-deprecating as she “leads with her weakness”, as one of my pastors used to say.

She laughed about how we don’t enjoy every part of our spiritual journey.  Since I have a trip coming up, I began to equate that to my travel style.  What a mistake I’ve made rushing, literally and figuratively, to get to the destination.  I’m sure I’m overlooked small kindnesses I may have received or moments worth savoring while I was distracted and thinking how to get to the next thing on the itinerary.

When I went to the Chihuly Exhibit, my friend and I were laughing about how we each hate to rush anymore.  Over time I’ve learned to give myself some extra space, just in case there’s a little bit of traffic or a line somewhere.  Somehow I just don’t enjoy myself in the same way if I’m dashing into an event.  My friend was laughing how her girlfriends give her a hard time, whining: “Why do we always have to get every place so EARLY?!  Why can’t we just be on time?”  My advice: get an eReader – it will be worth every dime. 

I’ve decided to apply Joyce’s advice to my trip.  Instead of focusing on the endpoint, I’m going to consciously appreciate every step.  I’ve decided that I’m going to have the nicest shuttle drivers, the most agreeable security people, and efficient help on the plane and at the hotel.  I’ll let you know how it actually goes, but in the meantime, I’ll leave you with the words of Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore. Dream. Discover.”