Long Road Home
I am a commuter. Five days a week I load up and leave my small town home to drive 45 minutes one way to my job in a nearby city only to drive another 45 minutes at the end of the day to return home. Some days I greet this task with energy. Some days I welcome it with tolerance. Other days I tackle it begrudgingly, but even on those days when I want to channel my inner toddler and pout "I don't want to," I still resolve myself to be grateful for the drive.
Of course, there are the obvious reasons to be grateful -- for the job that gives me the reason to drive away from home in the first place and for the family to drive home to -- but that hour and a half a day alone in my car also provides me with some valuable opportunities...
It gives me the chance to break out my inner diva and belt out at the top of my lungs to some of my favorite songs from "back in the day" with no regard for anyone's sense of hearing or taste in music.
It provides me with the time to call my mom, dad, friend or husband and have a real conversation with limited distractions or interruptions. Sometimes we even end up having talks we might not have had otherwise.
It gives me the chance to look at the scenery and appreciate the nature around me and the changing seasons instead of watching the world through a screen.
It gifts me with some of my best thinking time to brainstorm solutions to issues at work, projects at home or writing ideas.
Best of all, it provides me with ample time alone with just me and my Heavenly Father. During those regular drives together, I spend time listening to God's word through podcast sermons. I spend time pouring out my heart to God about the hurts in my heart, the blessings in my life, desires of my heart that have yet to come to pass, prayers for friends and family, my love for Him, my doubts and fears. I lay it all out in that four-wheel drive confessional with nothing held back. And through it all I worship. I crank the radio up and sing along with my favorite praise songs, sing acapella with the songs in my heart or just shout out my adoration for my God who is always faithful to me, even when I doubt Him or His plans for me.
I am so very grateful for my ever-present traveling companion on my long road home.
Of course, there are the obvious reasons to be grateful -- for the job that gives me the reason to drive away from home in the first place and for the family to drive home to -- but that hour and a half a day alone in my car also provides me with some valuable opportunities...
It gives me the chance to break out my inner diva and belt out at the top of my lungs to some of my favorite songs from "back in the day" with no regard for anyone's sense of hearing or taste in music.
It provides me with the time to call my mom, dad, friend or husband and have a real conversation with limited distractions or interruptions. Sometimes we even end up having talks we might not have had otherwise.
It gives me the chance to look at the scenery and appreciate the nature around me and the changing seasons instead of watching the world through a screen.
It gifts me with some of my best thinking time to brainstorm solutions to issues at work, projects at home or writing ideas.
Best of all, it provides me with ample time alone with just me and my Heavenly Father. During those regular drives together, I spend time listening to God's word through podcast sermons. I spend time pouring out my heart to God about the hurts in my heart, the blessings in my life, desires of my heart that have yet to come to pass, prayers for friends and family, my love for Him, my doubts and fears. I lay it all out in that four-wheel drive confessional with nothing held back. And through it all I worship. I crank the radio up and sing along with my favorite praise songs, sing acapella with the songs in my heart or just shout out my adoration for my God who is always faithful to me, even when I doubt Him or His plans for me.
I am so very grateful for my ever-present traveling companion on my long road home.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
Thanks to my husband for the awesome photos! Your photographer's eye helps me see the world in a new way and finds beautiful pictures that somehow seem to match my words every time! It's so amazing how God does that!
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