Life is a highway.

These are the words my youngest posted below a Facebook post last month of him receiving his learner’s permit.

You see, although many of his peers accomplished this years ago, it was a significant milestone for him. Receiving his learner’s permit is just one more step closer to independence.

As Landon and I have both learned over the years, everyone’s journey is not the same.

Sometimes our roads are scenic and full of beauty. At other times, our roads seem dark with nothing noteworthy to draw our attention. Our drive may be mundane as we await the next rest stop. Or, we may find ourselves on the expressway making better time than we ever expected.

There were times when we’ve veered off course a time or two. Then there are others where my GPS (God’s Provision System) seemed to take me in the opposite direction than planned.

I’ve had a few flats.

Got stuck in the mud.

But through it all, the overwhelming lesson I learned while raising this kid is to simply “keep going.”

Years ago, I worried about getting this kid through elementary school. Getting past the next standardized exam.

Then the focus was to make it through middle school. Then high school. Now, this kid is away at college and doing quite well which is something that seemed improbable when faced with the “facts” over a decade ago.

My worries were for naught.

My little seed of faith, prayer and the agreement of my village availed much!

I’ve heard it said it is not the destination but the journey. For years, it felt like the cramped quarters and motion sickness of the journey might keep both Lan and me from reaching our destination.

Now a bit older, and perhaps wiser, I have learned stressed-out travel is not for me! I’ll get there when I get there. If it is God’s timing, I’m perfectly fine with that.

And, thankfully, Lan is too.

We have learned every journey requires patience. The greater the distance to travel, the longer it takes to get there. There is also a greater burden and cost to bridge vast distances between “here” and “there.”

In my case, “there” yielded increased maturity, spiritual growth, and a portion of wisdom while “there” for Lan is a home in Orlando to pursue his own interests in computer animation.

We never know where our path will lead us. We often have a destination in mind, but we can’t always account for delays, detours and even a few false starts.

Still, as we rely on God to direct our paths, we can relax a little. We can admire the flowers along the way. We can look up at the vast mountains and across broad valleys confident that God will get us exactly where we need to be if not necessarily where we want.

May you enjoy safe travels and Godspeed wherever your journey takes you.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105 NIV