When Are We Going to Get There?

A frequent question asked by anyone going anywhere is: “When are we going to get there?” It is a question asked by children headed for picnic places. It is a question inwardly asked by adults moving through the years of life. “When are we going to get there?”

“Life is a journey and not a destination.” But it is a journey that we should enjoy, and not always live as if happiness were always ahead – but not now.

Searching is normal. Reaching and wanting and waiting are also normal. But we should enjoy the journey, and not always wonder when we are going to “get there.”

Young people – and older people also – work long years to prepare themselves – for professions or employment, or to pay off the mortgage, to educate children, to pay bills, or to acquire things wanted, and always wonder when they are going to “get there.” And then suddenly, sometimes there comes an awareness that they have “been there” all along – and that they should have enjoyed the journey much more.

Sometimes en work long years looking toward retirement, toward what they will do – someday. And then suddenly there comes an awareness that life has been going on all the time, and that in looking too intently ahead we have failed to enjoy some of the lovely passing scenes.

The visits with loved ones, the quiet evening hours, the holiday, the picnic with all its wonderful inconveniences, the talk across the table, the give-and-take, the going and coming, the problems, the many interests and activities – these are all part of “being there,” and should not be bypassed in the process of “getting there.”

We never seem to arrive at a point of completeness, but when we look back we often find that we didn’t quite see some things for what they were. It isn’t likely that we shall find anything more precious than the love of loved ones, or the sense of accomplishment, or the wonderful feeling of being on our way.

It is true that there is much that needs to be improved. But the journey of life is ever-lasting. It is going on all the time, and living happily and usefully now is a very important part of the process. The things we hope to get, the things we are going to get, shouldn’t rob us of the happiness we have.