With the responsibility of serving a region that has over 295,000 square miles, I have become a bit of an expert on taking trips.
While driving those long miles I have had a lot of time to think about this subject and I’ve come up with a few thoughts that that I have found helpful. See what you think…
First, there is a difference between taking a trip and going on a journey.
Second, trips are so much better if you see them as a part of a journey.
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Let me explain…
Don’t confuse “taking a trip” with “going on a journey”.
Trips involved going from Point A to Point B; journeys involve the process of purpose.
For example, if you have a job, you get up each day and leave Point A (your home) and drive to Point B (where you work). And then at the end of the work day you reverse the trip and head back to Point A (your home). Once you get back home the round trip is over.
However, a journey is about why you took the trip.
Say, for example, you started a journey with your sweetheart by getting married. Early on, you discovered that you can’t just live on love and so the specter of you and your newly-wed having empty stomachs and living under a bridge motived you to take a trip…to a job interview.
Now once the job interview is over, the trip is over, but the journey you and your new spouse began goes on.
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Here’s the point, beginning the moment God began lovingly knitting you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) He did so for an eternal purpose. The process of achieving that purpose is your “journey”.
- The ONE THING for today: Whatever you do, don’t allow all the little trips of life to cause you to forget the journey you are on.
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Here’s a few “journey vs. trip” bullet points to think about:
- Your journey began with a trip–your mother’s trip to the delivery room.
- Trips end, “the journey of your life” goes on for eternity.
- All trips are a part of the journey and influence the trajectory of your journey.
- For example, a trip to a bar vs. a trip to a church or a trip to the dessert table vs. a trip to the gym set an entirely different trajectory for the journey of your life.
- At the end of a trip, you can drop your fellow passengers off and move on; those who share your journey are with you for life. Therefore, treasure them and do your best to make it a good journey together.
- Trips are necessary; your journey is essential.
- The people you take with you on both your trips and your journey will greatly influence the outcome. Therefore, choose your traveling companions wisely.
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Godspeed on your travels!
The ONE THING 
Brother Kemp –
Just wanted to say hello.
My wife and I have moved to NC to be closer to family.
I think of you often and keep you on my prayer list.
On my journey, you were an “impactor” on my life.
I still remember words of wisdom you gave during my “trips” on MIP.
Some were and are still profound.
Thank you much – blessing to you as you travel. There is fruit to your labor.
Hope you have bought your wife a thick new winter coat.
God Bless. You will never know.
Pete Roquemore
Cell: 704-458-5482
pete@utilres.com
“The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team. “ Lewis B. Ergen
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Pastor Kemp, Brenda Matheny, Curt Matheny’s daughter here. Curt, my dad, passed away yesterday. I thought you and Sondra would like to know. We are in a world of grief but we know my beloved dad is in heaven. God is good and we are blessed… Brenda
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Hey Brenda, I am just now getting you commitment. Sonja and I were so sad to learn of your father’s death. I think of your parents often since moving to the Dakotas. I often see their footprints.
I send my heartfelt condolences. Like you, I have been blessed with a good and godly dad who served many years in the ministry. I rue the day when I am tasked with the responsibility you have recently had to go through. I can only imagine how tough it has been-especially during this Christmas season.
May the peace and strength of God sustain you.
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