( Please note this was previously published on my blog, when it was just a month old in April 2012 and Jonny's health details relate to that time- the message however, I think is timeless!)
As we approach Passover, I have been thinking about the story of the Exodus from Egypt, which we are going to retell next week at our Passover table. These slaves from Egypt were to spend 40 years journeying in the desert. Their goal was to reach Israel. But for many of them, the trip through the desert would take their whole lives and I wondered if any of them ever stopped for a minute to admire the view.
They had certainly been through an incredibly traumatic experience. They complained about their circumstances in the desert and their lack of food and drink. Their lack of faith often rose to the surface.
As we approach Passover, I have been thinking about the story of the Exodus from Egypt, which we are going to retell next week at our Passover table. These slaves from Egypt were to spend 40 years journeying in the desert. Their goal was to reach Israel. But for many of them, the trip through the desert would take their whole lives and I wondered if any of them ever stopped for a minute to admire the view.They had certainly been through an incredibly traumatic experience. They complained about their circumstances in the desert and their lack of food and drink. Their lack of faith often rose to the surface.
Did they ever rave over the sunrise or admire the desert landscape?
Did they point in wonder at the stars or marvel at their children’s resilience?
Were they so focused on what they had left behind or getting to the end point, that they forgot to stop and take in what was in front of, or above them?
When our family goes on a long car trip, my boys are always so buried in their electronics, that I spend much of the journey shouting above their ear phones to try and point out a beautiful scene, an unusual building or real live animals. Despite my best efforts, that they enjoy the ride, often for them, the journey is a means to an end.
Our journeys through life take much longer than a few hours. On this recovery journey that Jonny is on, it is easy to get bogged down in the mire of medications, doctors’ visits, work and sleep and forget to stop and enjoy the small gifts that are happening around us, as we continue our journey: The hugs from our children, the lone tulip in the garden,(See my previous post-Among the Weeds)the continuing offers of help and visits from our friends or the unexpected, uplifting email from a colleague.
So, I wonder if the Children of Israel ever did stop to admire the view. We will never know for sure. But one thing I have learned from our personal journey is that it may take much longer than we ever planned, to reach our destination, so we might as well take a moment to cherish the positive right now, along the way.
Wishing all of you a very happy Pesach or Easter and Springtime. I hope you have a moment during the shopping, planning and cooking, praying and entertaining, to stop and enjoy the views you stumble upon along the way. Please send a picture or description, of anything that stops you in your tracks to gilly@bringingbooksofcomfort.org or tell me about it below.
Have a great week.
Gilly
* Please email me at gilly@bringingbooksofcomfort.org or leave a comment on this post below. I'd love to have your feedback.
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*Thank you for visiting Brainstorm. If you want to receive future posts by email please enter your address on the right hand side of this post,where it says "follow by email."
When our family goes on a long car trip, my boys are always so buried in their electronics, that I spend much of the journey shouting above their ear phones to try and point out a beautiful scene, an unusual building or real live animals. Despite my best efforts, that they enjoy the ride, often for them, the journey is a means to an end.
Our journeys through life take much longer than a few hours. On this recovery journey that Jonny is on, it is easy to get bogged down in the mire of medications, doctors’ visits, work and sleep and forget to stop and enjoy the small gifts that are happening around us, as we continue our journey: The hugs from our children, the lone tulip in the garden,(See my previous post-Among the Weeds)the continuing offers of help and visits from our friends or the unexpected, uplifting email from a colleague.
So, I wonder if the Children of Israel ever did stop to admire the view. We will never know for sure. But one thing I have learned from our personal journey is that it may take much longer than we ever planned, to reach our destination, so we might as well take a moment to cherish the positive right now, along the way.
Wishing all of you a very happy Pesach or Easter and Springtime. I hope you have a moment during the shopping, planning and cooking, praying and entertaining, to stop and enjoy the views you stumble upon along the way. Please send a picture or description, of anything that stops you in your tracks to gilly@bringingbooksofcomfort.org or tell me about it below.
Have a great week.
Gilly
* Please email me at gilly@bringingbooksofcomfort.org or leave a comment on this post below. I'd love to have your feedback.
*******************************************************
*Thank you for visiting Brainstorm. If you want to receive future posts by email please enter your address on the right hand side of this post,where it says "follow by email."
In the crazy, fast paced, technologically driven life we need, pausing to admire our surroundings has become more important than ever.
Gilly
Gillyx