I felt Tuesday was a good stay at home day, sat outside in beautiful weather. I didn’t feel super productive at my job searching, except for realizing a direction that I didn’t want to go in. That was a true gut feeling I got while talking to a fellow graduate from my PhD institution, whom I networked with to discuss her workplace. She only started there two months prior, she’s 25 years my junior and has her whole life ahead of her feeling… cool… and for me, I now appreciate the ugh moment for the direction NOT to go in, even if I took the hit of making it me also feel temporarily unmotivatated. It’s OK, and goes with the territory of job searches which are also life direction decisions. Pondering is painful and yet productive. I am not in a due or die scenario – just would be nice to know the future, right?
And then, after an afternoon of more pondering and around the yard projects and resting my bones from overexertion the day before, I opened up the Bible Gateway scripture of the day email, and wouldn’t you know it, God sent the Jeremiah 29:11 message to me AGAIN. He has sent this relentlessly to me this season of life. FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, SAYS THE LORD… TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE… Yeah, thank You Lord, AGAIN.
Wednesday was very different in movement and motivation, I took a ride with my daughter on her commute and she dropped me off at the train station (she also picked me up that evening – so nice that she drives – even if I still do hold on for dear life, LOL). I rode up early to the Big Apple, and had enough time before a “lunch and learn” in lower Manhattan (building right on the subway line) to take a “quick” ride on the Staten Island Ferry, round trip to see the Statue of Liberty in a distance and the skyline, and it is for free. 25 minutes each way. And I gave myself enough of a buffer for the chance I had to wait for the ride back. It worked out fine, I hustled in an NY minute around the corner and jumped last minute on the returning vessel. Actually all the trains and boats I hustled and got on within 3 minutes of them leaving – now THAT’S timing.
Oh it wasn’t like I was the only one there doing that same thing, and it’s a BIG boat, orange brightness keeps you from confusing it with others boats. Sturdy solid and sightseeing sweet. Sure, it was a JOY ride.
Yes, a JOY ride meant it wasn’t because I had to ride, didn’t have to commute, didn’t have to bear a weeks-long travel excursion endured for immigration like my ancestors (and I appreciated seeing in a distance the Ellis Island and NJ railroad buildings), and it was free. And the Statue of Liberty? A precious gem we all wanted to see.
My ancestors came from distant lands to see their futures. We can trust that the Lord knows ours. He has secured forever for us.
Joy. JOY. JOY RIDE.
A joyful heart is good medicine, and a joy ride is where we hand back some or all of our cares. And even though we live in a world of schedules and paying the bills, and whatnot, most of us have freedom to take a moment to pause, and may we always praise, even in the pondering and praying, and participating in play.
Jeremiah 29:11 and another 2 scriptures which appeared as scripture cards in my pocket on Wednesday reminded me to PRAISE the Lord and PRAISE the JOY RIDE.
Proverbs 5:21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all paths.
And Psalm 145:3 God is magnificent. He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness.
YES!
And then later as I networked and dug into my afternoon science conference (and the free lunch and goat cheese canapes at the reception), I felt free for conversation and connection making. I don’t know the benefits on the future, I just knew the joy of the moment. As I rode home on the train, I listened in to my Bible study zoom call and we talked about God giving us opportunities to grow, and how much He loves us.
As I rested last night, I rested in the Lord. And this morning? Always start with praise. God can not be praised enough.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY, AND ENJOY THE JOY RIDE.
Amen
