January 21, 2011

The Road

I've been on a journey.
I didn't pack my suntan lotion or fill up the gas tank, but I came back with some souvenirs.
I love spontaneous trips, but this one would have been smoother if I had planned.
I ventured into wild and untamed territory and often found myself saying, "I just want to go home."  There were bumpy roads, detours and unfavorable conditions, but the view was worth it.

This was a journey of the heart.

Before the journey started my bags were filled with expectations, "standards" and plans.  I returned much lighter for the load.  It was difficult leaving them along the wayside.  Letting go can be so hard, even when it makes the burden lighter.

Have you been there?  Are you on a road that doesn't seem to end?  The roads of life can take so many turns.  I know your journey looks very different from mine.  Sometimes I may have even been a little jealous of your venture.  But that's not the map designed for me.

Join me next week as I share my journey.
Have a beautiful weekend, wherever it may take you!

11 comments:

Linda said...

What a great post! I am on that road and yes the expectations were high and even though I know I need to leave some by the wayside there are times I still hang on...
Thanks for the "road trip" so to speak.
Blessings

Richella Parham said...

Oh, boy, Gretchen. . . my journey has been along some very curvy, and sometimes very bumpy, roads. Traveling light really does make a difference.

I'm eager to hear about your travels!

Anonymous said...

I really do not like the road that I am on right now, but I will rejoyce with my Lord every day for being on it!
So excited to see you soon!
K

Leah said...

I am on a similar journey of late ... I'm sure with completely different circumstances.

Looking forward to your next post. I've enjoyed your blog so much, but have yet to comment ... until now! ;)

Kellie said...

Yes, I have been on a road... even wrote a bit about it this week on the blog. I am thankful for the journey the Lord takes us on even if they are hard.

Diane Meyer said...

I'm on a road, too! It IS a journey, and you are right; sometimes I am a little envious of other people's trips.
But mine is good.
Look forward to seeing what God reveals of Himself to you.

Cathy said...

Oh, I'll be back, because I have this crazy feeling as you share your journey that, once again, it will speak to me where I'm at.

It feels good to get back into blog reading/connecting...

Anonymous said...

*gulp* (that's a holding back the tears gulp b/c of how close to home this hit.) so did you copy & paste this out of my personal journal, or what? ;)

ah yes, the roads of life -- esp. the unexpected ones. (and i don't actually LIKE spontaneous trips, so you must have written that line all on your own. hehe.) it's interesting you mention this analogy b/c one of the books i've been reading on my recent journey has been lucado's traveling light. and funny, when i sent my update out the other day, i realized that i really like the word, journey! (i noticed that i had used it a ton, so i switched a few out so that i only used it 98 times instead of 100.) ;)

so i, too, anxiously await to hear more about your journey, friend. and if the Lord ever leads me to put mine on paper someday, i just might have to steal this post b/c it would make the perfect intro, don't you think?

your fellow traveler,
TZ

Little Oak Table said...

oooh, i can't wait to hear from your heart.

check out this quote i feel the Lord lovingly placed into plain view for me last week:

"our business is to love what God would have us do. he wills our vocation as it is; let us love that, and not trifle away our time in hankering after other people's vocation." francis de sales

God has been filling my tank up with renewed purpose and joy in my role as a wife and mother.

anthonyandbeth said...

Looking forward to hearing more from your heart.

anthonyandbeth said...

Looking forward to hearing more from your heart.