I’m already being poured out like a sacrifice to God, and the time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. — 1 Timothy 4:6-7
Life is like driving a car, isn’t it? You’re focused on looking ahead, mapping out where you’re going, making sure you get to your destination. But it’s impossible to finish a long trip without at least occasionally stopping.
Ever notice how interstates are not only dotted with rest areas, but they are advertised well in advance? Of course the point of such areas is to offer, well, rest: stop the trip, go to the bathroom, eat a snack, etc.
Sometimes rest stops are thrust upon us, like the Apostle Paul’s was. He was writing from prison, anticipating his upcoming death. He looked back and saw the long journey he’d made as he followed his calling. His letter to Timothy is filled with names and places. There’s a sense of thankfulness behind his words.
It’s healthy to not wait for a mandatory rest stop in order to reflect, recharge, and perhaps redirect. Take a voluntary one. Questions arise when you rest. Who have been the people in your life who’ve shaped you? What events have been sacred, both the good and bad? How have you seen God moving, in the foreground as well as background? What mistakes have you made and what grace have you received? And when did you give grace?
You can’t really answer these and other questions when you’re focused on keeping the car on the road.
Sometimes resting and looking back is what’s needed to appreciate the journey that lies ahead.