Today I had to run an errand and got the kids ready to go with me. My 8 year old kept asking ‘Where are we going? Where are we going?’ I refused to tell her – her request continued. ‘Where are we going?’ So I asked ‘What difference does it make?’ ‘I just want to know,’ she replied. Still I wouldn’t tell her, so for every five minutes in our 30 minute drive I would hear a voice from the backseat go ‘Where are we going? Why don’t you just tell me where we are going? If I know where we are going then I can plan for it.’ I kept thinking why can’t she just trust that I love her and that wherever we are going is going to be for the best. Why can’t she just sit back and enjoy the ride and wait to be surprised? Why can’t she relax? I’m her mom, I wouldn’t let any harm come to her – I may teach her lessons but won’t stand by and watch her get hurt.
I was about to get really annoyed when the thought hit me. How are we any different than an 8 year old? Aren’t we always trying to figure out the future? Aren’t we always asking God/Universe what plan it has for us? Aren’t we always saying if I just knew where I’d end up in 5 years then I can relax, if I just knew where I was going – at least I can plan for it… Universe or God where is my life going? Where am I going to end up? Will I get everything that I’ve asked for? If I just knew that I’d have my $1bill then I could just relax (okay the last part is just for me and Shauna but still). If I just knew that everything would work out then I’d relax and enjoy the ride…
Whenever we have those moments and I have them a lot- unsure, doubting,wondering and thinking If I just knew where I was going instead of being stuck in the backseat asking where am I going…It’s good to remember that God/Universe is like a parent looking back saying relax, enjoy the ride - you’ll be surprised where we are going because I have bigger plans for you than you have for yourself…
When was the last time you asked ‘where are we going?’
Tags: allowing, detachment, enjoy the ride, letting go, see the future
