02 Sep The Road Ahead
Fourteen years ago, I set out to walk the Susan G. Komen 60-mile walk for breast cancer.
I was one of five women on a team and the only one in a different city. The others walked together often and built up their endurance. I…thought of walking and knew I needed to build my endurance, but it just didn’t happen. As you can imagine, going from, pretty much, zero to sixty killed my body. Everything in me ached, and my knees have never been the same. But I did it. I survived, and I’ve got the t-shirt to prove it. It doesn’t fit anymore, but I still have it.
This so resembles my life right now. I know I need to be preparing for the journey ahead, but I find myself locked in my car with the windows up, and AC doesn’t work. Do you know what I mean?!
So, how can we prepare for what’s ahead when the road keeps changing, we’re navigating all on our own, and we don’t feel equipped for the trip?
Here are two things that have helped me in the past (and hopefully in the future):
1) Focus on What’s Next
If tomorrow’s unclear, what’s clear today? What can you do today that will help with tomorrow’s decision? Who can you ask that has walked this road before or is a little farther ahead on the same journey? What do you need to do to be ready–mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically?
Riding the bus to the day one starting line for the 60-mile walk, we got to talk to a lady who traveled from city to city walking the Susan G. Komen. This particular one was like her sixth for the year, so we, of course, gleaned as much wisdom as we could. Unfortunately, most of her advice dealt with prep before starting the walk, but we applied what we could. Day one went well, considering. As long as I focused on the path ahead and kept a good steady pace, I felt great. I couldn’t think about how much I would hurt day two, or even that there was a day two–AND a day three.
Focusing on what’s next can’t mean dreading what’s coming tomorrow. It is literally, what is the very next step.
Relatable Verse: Matthew 6:34
2) Take the Wrong Turn
Sometimes you don’t know if a decision is wrong until you try it. Maybe you don’t go all-in on a decision, but take a baby step into it to see how it looks? You can always turn around. We don’t consider a road trip complete in my family unless we’ve made at least one u-turn.
Sometimes the wrong turn leads to the best experience.
There is a place in the Appalachian Mountains that my family and I go to frequently. One of my sons works there right now. There are several different routes you can take to get there. One has a very winding road called “The Tail of the Dragon.” It is an 11-mile stretch of road with 318 curves. The first time I drove it, it was by accident. The curves were so vast that the road fell off of GPS. I kind of panicked for a second or two, but then recognized, I grew up in a state called “Mountain mama” (WV) I’ve got this.
It turned into a fun drive, and I’ve driven that way on purpose a few more times. The only downside is that the driver doesn’t get to enjoy the scenery, but the journey has a beauty of its own.
The road ahead may be new or have some unfamiliar turns, and maybe the GPS can’t even show you the whole view, but you can trust God to navigate your way. Look for God’s touches. Trust what He has already brought you through to help you handle what’s ahead. You’ve got this!
Relatable Verse: Psalm 16:11
Relatable Songs to Listen for on Walk fm: Hope in Front of Me – Danny Gokey, Oceans – Hillsong, Way Maker – Mandisa, Trust in You – Lauren Daigle, Walk by Faith – Jeremy Camp, Hills and Valleys – Tauren Wells, My Feet Are on the Rock – I Am They
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Susan E. Greenwood is a wife, a mother, and a mother-in-law :D. She has over 28 years experience in youth and children’s ministries. Susan loves to write blogs, articles, devotionals, and curriculum. She has blogged for bible.org, and authors Mary Demuth, Lynn Cowell and Ruth Schwenk. Susan writes regularly for skitguys.com. Her passion is to help people live their Life In Stride with the Word of God.
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