Billy Coffey

storyteller

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The journey

June 8, 2011 by Billy Coffey 13 Comments

image courtesy of photobucket.com
image courtesy of photobucket.com

My family and I took a long trip over the weekend, long being a drive of nearly an hour and a half. Those who have kids understand that five minutes in the car with them can at times be too much. There is crying and complaining, spills and messes, and a seemingly endless chorus of “Are we there yet?” and “How much farther?”

That was our ride.

And this even with all the newfangled trinkets designed to make an hour and a half ride more comfortable. Things like DS games and DVD players. These things do well and good so long as they remain charged and the headaches do not start, which, in our case, lasted a grand total of forty minutes.

With aspirin handed out and the radio turned down, all that was left were those old fashioned games that helped me through some long rides of my own once upon a time. There was the ever-popular I Spy game, won by my son. My daughter won the out of state license plate game. They each tied at seven playing the game where you get the truckers to blow their horns.

But even after all that, there was still a half hour’s worth of driving to go. With the DS games dead, the DVD players on life support, and the radio station that seemed incapable of playing nothing but Van Halen’s “Panama,” there was nothing for us to do but wait.

“Won’t be long,” I promised. “We’ll get there soon enough.”

I knew that wasn’t exactly right. And I’ll say that while I said it, I was thinking of the drive back. Of going back there and getting out of that cramped car. Unbuckling my belt and stretching my legs and looking at the sun and hearing it welcome me home.

I’ve heard that life is all about the journey. The destination is not just irrelevant, it spoils all the fun. Sounds like a romantic notion. And just as most romantic notions, that one’s just plain ridiculous. What’s the use in going if you have nowhere to go? Why start when there is no end?

As I drove, road leading toward a horizon that only yielded more road, I decided there was also something else that could be described as a journey rather than a destination.

Hell.

My sour attitude didn’t last long. And of course I don’t want to imply that spending ninety minutes in the car with my family was hellish. It was not. It only seemed that way for a bit.

But after that bit I began to realize how apropos our drive was to life itself. Because to a certain extent we are all on a road. There are dips and curves, mountains and valleys. There are times when extreme concentration is necessary and times when everything seems flat and boring. Regardless, the point is to keep going. There is no heading back, not for any of us. The road is forward. It always shall be.

We have company along the way. Family and loved ones that sometimes get on our nerves but most times we know we could never live without. They are with us and we them, even though each has his or her own vantage point, his or her own place.

There are others too, sharing a bit of the road with us while we travel. Some pull alongside for a long while and become familiar. Others are there and then gone, never to be seen again. It’s a big road, life, and we all go at our own pace. Some are in a hurry and others take their time. But regardless, we all will reach The End someday.

The End. Oh yes. Because while the road may be wide and long, there is no room for existential thoughts of a journey without a destination. We may be given the freedom to ride as we wish, to be cautious or not, to ride with the windows down or rolled up tight, but that freedom ends there. We were not given the choice to be upon this road, and we are not given the choice to stay upon it.

And if that causes us grief, I say it shouldn’t. I say I look forward to that day when my ride is done. When I can unbuckle my seatbelt and step outside. I will stretch my legs and stare at the Son, and He will say welcome home.

Filed Under: distance, family, hell, journey, life

Comments

  1. Jaycee (E.A) says

    June 8, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Beautiful. Just beautiful. It’s amazing what lessons come out of experiences such as this.

    Reply
  2. Karin says

    June 8, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Oh, the memories of traveling with young children. Some trips were great – in the days before seatbelts they were allowed to sleep in the back of the station wagon! Another famous comment by our eldest, “If you’ve seen one mountain, you’ve seen them all,” and she wanted to go home! I remember putting some toys aside and only pulling them out when on the road again; same with some treats – licorice – a trip treat! Great post!

    Reply
  3. Sharon @ Hiking Toward Home says

    June 8, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Once again you tell a great story and point us all heavenward. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Cathy says

    June 8, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    One of my favs of yours. This time, not because of the skill of the writing, but because it gave my soul goosebumps.

    Reply
  5. Marilyn Yocum says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Resonates. Not given a choice to be on it. Not given a choice to stay. But sometimes I DO have a choice to stay. And there is nowhere better than smack in the middle of God’s will for me, though the road at times is bumpy.

    Reply
  6. Katdish says

    June 9, 2011 at 9:52 am

    Just wait until you go on the 7 or 9 hour drive. We do that at least once a year. Might I suggest the quiet game? Which in our car must be restarted at 3 to 5 minute intervals, because no one can be quiet longer than that unless their sleeping.

    Reply
  7. Gary fultz says

    June 9, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Good stuff, I relate well as I lead trips into the wilderness (and back out so far). With the horizon constantly in mind I tend to dog-pile every skirmish that comes my way. I want distractions and adventure to make me think it’s about the journey, but looking forward to stretching my legs in a beautiful Sonrise. Thanks for your perspectives!!

    Reply
  8. karenzach says

    June 9, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I saw that line about it only seemed that way for a little bit coming. 🙂
    Of course, you want to talk journeys, shall I tell you how many times I loaded four kids in the car and drove them from Oregon to Georgia and back? This in the days before any of those gadgets we now have. No backseat TV. No iPhones. No DVD players.
    Nothing except Veggie Tales in the OMGOSH tape deck. (Look in up on Wiki). Or DC Talk. Thank you fellas. Still, ask the kids some of their favorite memories of childhood and they all say the road trips.
    You are Swanky, Billy Coffey. Righteously Swanky.

    Reply
  9. Hazel Moon says

    June 9, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    The journey – You have reminded me of our journeys long ago and our bunch with their games arguments. Usually “he touched me”, “I did not.” Enjoyed your application of life as a journey. My husband got up this morning and said to me, “Not there yet.” 🙂

    Reply
  10. Joanne Sher says

    June 9, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Ooooh yes. Beautiful as usual, Billy.

    Reply
  11. Simply Darlene says

    June 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Try a little “Hank the Cowdog” in audio format and even you’ll be laughing while your ears flap in the breeze. I love it. (available in both CD and cassette)

    Or ya know, drive an old diesel with the windows rolled down — ain’t nobody hearing anything except the engine…

    http://www.hankthecowdog.com/books/collection.html

    Blessings.

    Reply
  12. Joyce says

    June 10, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    I’m traveling today so this especially rang true…no whiny kids but plenty of cranky adults in the airport. Beautifully written!

    Reply
  13. Paul Fredenberg says

    June 14, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    This was a wonderful post, Billy. We just took a 1,600 mile roadtrip with our seven kids and I felt a lot of the same things. Over and over again.

    Reply

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