What exactly does this quote mean? Theologian Lynn H. Hough wrote a short article entitled The Way of the Pilgrim in “The Christian Advocate” periodical in 1920. He is telling a story of one man’s description of a great minister who understands the importance of valuing character over temporary sensation. Hough tucks this quote neatly in the middle of the sentence, “He wanted his friends to realize that life is a journey and not a destination; that the heart must be set upon those matters of character which are eternal and not upon those matters of sensation which pass away” (266).

My life has often been entirely focused on things which pass away. It was hard-wired into me to be task-oriented and to strive for perfection in the completion of those tasks. As a result, I have often missed opportunities to focus on the needs of others or to enjoy the company of loved ones. Whenever I would hear someone say, “Stop and smell the roses.” I would wonder, “What does that mean?” “Am I doing that?”

When my oldest two children were very young, my husband would say to me, “Don’t worry about the housework, just enjoy your girls.” Mostly, I listened to him and spent time with our girls enjoying their desired activity, but I found myself wondering, “Am I doing this right? Is there something else I should be doing?”

There are endless habits and behaviors hard-wired into a developing child. A child who is fortunate enough to be raised in a loving home, free from abuse, will likely still focus on things that won’t last. Our society strongly advocates temporary rewards, which makes it difficult to focus on those things that last. With the emphasis on getting ahead in life, it is a rare person who can see past the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality.

Counseling was the beginning of my self-discovery journey. At the time, I thought that aspect of my journey would come to completion after a year or two of therapy. I have come to understand that going through counseling was only the beginning of my healing journey. There are so many things I have learned in the last 30-plus years. The most important is that I will not be completely healed from my past until I arrive in Heaven.

While I don’t always understand what it looks like, I now know that my life is indeed a journey. I have come a long way on my healing journey, but my periodic failures remind me that I have not arrived at total healing yet. I’m okay with that now because I can look back at my journey map and see progress. Each day I continue to evaluate my character and give attention to the areas needing improvement. This behavior gives me confidence that my course is positively set and I can strive to enjoy the journey.

For me, the quote, “Life is a journey and not a destination” means:

• I need to enjoy the process rather than focusing only on the results because most of the time, the results are temporary in the grand scheme of life. It’s what we do along the way that is truly meaningful.
• I need to not sweat the small stuff–most things I get uptight about cease to matter the next day or the next month or for sure by the following year.
• I need to focus on positive character development.
• I need to strive always to show love to others because if I am demonstrating love in the moment, then I am truly present on my journey.

My mission and goal is to share my journey in hopes that I might help others on their journeys. We all walk different paths in life. I have learned that comparing my journey to someone else’s with the intention of fashioning mine after their’s is damaging to all involved. Learning from someone else’s journey can lighten a load of my own when I properly apply the information learned. We can each learn from others’ journeys what has and has not worked and prayerfully consider how it might apply to our personal journeys. It is my prayer that as you visit my site you will find knowledge as well as comfort to take with you on your journey.

Hough, Lynn H. “The Sunday School Lesson: Conducted by Lynn H. Hough: First Quarter – Lesson IX – February 29, 1920.” The Christian Advocate. Google Books full view link. Originally published by The Methodist Book Concern Publishers, New York. February 19, 1920, pp. 266-267