The Station
by Robert J. Hastings

Tucked away in our subconcious minds is an idyllic vision in which we
see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent.  We're
traveling by train, and from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes
of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle
grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row
upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city
skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our minds is our final destination - for at a certain
hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the station
with bells ringing, flags waving and bands playing.  And once that day
comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true.  So restlessly, we pace
the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting for the
station.

"Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves.
"When we're 18... win the promotion...put our last kid through college...
buy that 450 SL Mercedes-Benz...pay off the mortgage...have a nest egg
for retirement."

From that day on, we will live happily ever after.

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station is this
life, no one Earthly place to arrive at once and for all.  The journey
is the joy.  the station is an illusion-it constantly outdistances us.
Yesterday's a memory; tomorrow's a dream.  Yesterday belongs to history;
tomorrow belongs to God.  Yesterday's a fading sunset; tomorrow's a
faint sunrise.  Only today is light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away.  it isn't
burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather the regret over
yesterday and fear of tomorrow.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with the
Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it."

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles.  Instead, swim more
rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars.
Laugh more and cry less.  Go barefoot more often.  Eat more ice cream.
Ride more merry-go-rounds.  Watch more sunsets.  Life must be lived as
we go along.