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Tips: Relationships make the difference

I preached the funeral of a close family member a few months ago, and the reality of the brevity of life once again set in. At 20 years old, we are unstoppable — life is in front of us for the taking … bring it on! At 50 years old (yes, I hit the big 5-0 this year), our perspective is substantially different.

Hopefully we have not lost the “bring it on” attitude, but our approach to getting it done changes as life happens. The more life we live, the more important relationships become. Life is a journey. Who we walk this journey with is what makes the journey exciting.

As I drove to Indiana in August, the journey was interesting. My wife journeyed with me to Wisconsin where we picked up my mom. Eight hours later, we arrived in Indianapolis. Certain parts of the trip I remember well, like the rainstorm in Wisconsin and the absolutely gorgeous sunrise in North Dakota, but mostly I remember the conversation and connection of many hours together with my wife and my mother.

On the way home, I did about 18 hours of the trip alone. I don’t really remember much about those alone hours — just that I kept on driving in order to reach the goal at the end of the trip. The journey was the same — same roads, same road construction, same gas stops, and the same nasty gas station food. The relationships are what made the difference between a memorable trip and a long, monotonous trip.

Traveling with someone made all the difference in the world. In this journey of life, always keep in mind that it is the relationships that make the difference. All too soon you will look back over life, realize the brevity, and consider the connections you have made over the years.

Relationships are what make the difference. First comes the relationship with God (see John 3:16 in the Bible), then comes our relationships with others. Build them both well. At the end of this life’s journey, our relationship with Christ is what will determine eternity. Stuff doesn’t really matter — people matter! Remember, on this journey of life, take Jesus and others with you!www.lastdon.org

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