At my uncle's funeral several weeks ago, the pastor (noting we were a Missouri Pacific Railroad family) told a story that I really liked:
As Susan climbed into the train, she noticed her car was totally empty---she could sit anywhere. She couldn't decide if she wanted in the sun or in the shade, in the front, middle or back. She tried several seats before the conductor told her to take a seat. She decided in middle on the sunny side.
At the train was pulling away, Susan realized the seat was so low she couldn't see outside. So, she looked around and found several pillows to sit on---no, too high---she couldn't see past the shade now. So, she finally had the seat at the right height but her feet didn't touch the ground. She pulled out the foot rest and just got comfortable to see all of the beautiful scenery out the train window, when she had to go to the bathroom. She finally got settled back into her seat to enjoy the view, when she decided she was hungry. She looked in her bag, couldn't find anything and decided to search out the snack bar. She sat in her seat, got comfortable with a candy bar when the conductor came by and told her they had reached the station that was her destination.
As she was climbing down the steps into the station, she said to the conductor, "If I'd know the trip was so short, I wouldn't have bothered with all of the small stuff---I missed the beauty of the journey."
Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
