This summer marked the 17th time we were blessed with the use of a cottage, sea doos, kayaks, paddle boats and of course the all important bass boat. Of course the kids are grown now but they still want to get together once a year at “the cottage”. Though some think two ten hour days driving is a draw back we think of it as simply part of the vacation package, besides we love to drive. We’ve driven twenty-four hour stretches from MI to Texas, some twenty hour stretches from Ontario to Winnipeg, a dozen nine hour stretches between Ontario and Michigan, and countless sixteen hour stretches from southwestern Ontario to Thunder Bay many of which now hold special family memories.
Once we were way-layed three days in Pembina, North Dakota in a wicked winter blizzard. The kids got to fill up on free hot chocolate and sleep on Red Cross mattresses on the stage of the local town hall. Another trip was stalled for six hours at a truck stop in Upsala (Hwy # 17 west of Thunder Bay), due to a freak ice storm in Spring. The small sleepy towns with only a general store have always been fun for us. The fireworks at some of the rest stops in the southern states left my boys “bug-eyed” on more than one occasion. Some of our trips also include some “less than memorable” stops. My wife Liz has a vivid memory of a flea infested motel room in northern Ontario and some fueling stops with bathrooms so filthy we chose the bush along the highway over the “civilized” rest stop. Oh well, we enjoy the trip because it’s on the way to “the cottage”. It is the prize at the end of the road that holds our attention.
Wouldn’t it be just nuts to call off the cottage because some of the rest-stops along the way are not so appetizing or don’t provide the services we want or because they have a reputation for not being very clean? As crazy as that sounds I see people doing something similar all the time. Another kind of “rest-stop” is the one we frequent on our journey of faith, it is called church. Some are small while others are big. Some may leave us feeling way-layed while other leave us bug-eyed. What ever the case you have to admit that cancelling your trip because of an unsatisfactory experience at a rest-stop, (church), would be equally crazy. The church is an important part of the journey but you have to look at it in the light of the destination.
Sure, some churches may leave you feeling less than motivated but no church is perfect. In speaking of the journey to his final destination, the apostle Paul says, “….. one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 3:12-14-NIV)”. Avoiding a troublesome rest stop is one thing, canceling the trip is another. A rest-stop doesn’t have to be perfect to be restful. How good a rest you get or enjoy also depends on you. An important key to a positive orientation is “anticipation”. Folks who look forward in anticipation of their prize are not generally the sort of people you’ll hear complaining. Press on, the destination is well worth it and your rest stops may become some of your special memories along The Way.
Kasey VanderVeen, Pastor
Good News Fellowship,
Winnipeg MB.