Perspective From Missing A Train

Not too long ago, I was running a few moments late to catch the train to work. I enjoy riding the train because there is constant movement down the track while I watch the drive and stop motion from the cars on the highway. It gives me some valuable time to mentally prepare for the day ahead. But I briefly digress from my point. I had not allowed much time to spare and as luck would have it, there was a train crossing another track along the way, therefore stopping me and quite a few other cars. Note, I never realized that many people were out at 6am, especially in this area. Well, if you look up the definition of slow, you might see a picture of this train. It was a cargo train and someone did not get the memo concerning the speed limit on the tracks. Okay, getting close, but if this train will come on already, I may still have a chance to catch my train. It finally passed thru and everyone eagerly awaited the crossing rail to rise. But no, it did not because another train was behind it. A couple of horns and I’m sure silent what the ..... comments might have been muttered. I will plead the fifth on my thoughts lol. But seriously??!!! So the train passes and thankfully, all is right with the world again as the walkers cross and the drivers pass thru. I am really late and begin to run. (My trainer will be happy to know that I got my cardio in this morning). As I get closer, I notice the train that I am trying to catch has pulled into the train. There is no way I will get there in time so I stop, essentially giving up. (Personal trainer, I really can’t explain). I quit and continued to walk to the station resigning myself to the fact that I would have to wait on the next one. As I get closer to the station, I noticed that the train had not left. Now, by this time, I start to run again but the train pulls off before I can get there. So I really do, once again, have to wait. The moral of this story is that if I had continued to run, even while thinking that I had missed the train, in fact, I would have caught the train. Now, I compare this story to our own journeys. How many times have we stopped when we thought the finish line was elusive or out of our reach? How many times have we quit on ourselves because we thought we were unworthy or unqualified? If I had kept moving, I would have caught the train in spite of the obstacle caused by the earlier slow moving train. If we keep moving, no matter the obstacle, we are still in the game and unexpected forces will step in to push us over the finish line. If only we keep moving though we fear victory or success is beyond our reach, that in and of itself is a victory. So my mantra today is to follow the path of keeping on and moving on. We do not have to see the finish to get to the finish line. Somewhere within, we have to visualize what we want and where we want to go. Sometimes that is all you have when you start the journey towards your desired destination. The key thing above all is to get started and remain engaged even when everything is telling you to stop.

Many times we do not see the finish line because we are standing on top of it. The moral of my early morning challenge is simply this

Fall Down 7 times, get up 8

Keep going even if defeat looks inevitable.

We can’t see as far as God so keep moving in the right direction without delay and watch how things line up in Your Favor!

Or as my 8th grade teacher once said..

"If a task is once begun, never leave it till it's done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all."

The best outcome on the morning described above as I sat waiting on the next train was the insight the experience provided me and the opportunity to put it in perspective. More importantly, how to apply what I had learned as I continue thru my own personal journey.

Have an awesome day!