Destination

Good Morning,

There is a story told of a man who, being late for a trip, arrives at the railroad station and jumps onto the first available train. Tired and disoriented, he dozed off for a while and then upon waking up, saw the train rumbling along at full speed toward an unknown destination. He began to get restless and started asking everyone where the train was going. He began complaining aloud and finally crying and shouting. He demanded that the train stop to let him off.

The more excited he became, the more the other passengers seemed puzzled by his behavior. The man finally desperate to get off the train, clawed at the door and finally crumpled up into a sobbing ball. At the sight of this a kind old man rose from his seat and went over to the sobbing man and told him - don't you know, this train has only one destination, the great unknown from which no one ever returns?

Life is much like the train ride. Once we are born, our final destination is death -- the great unknown. This is not sad, sadistic, or depressing. It is the truth and who does not want the truth in their life? This simple fact is not one to freak out over or fret and fuss. It is not to be seen as an hour glass counting down our moments grain by grain. It is a wonderful opportunity to use our time here to develop ourselves and our understanding, to be able to calm the other passengers when they wake up from their nap on the train and to calm ourselves. How many times have you travelled on a plane, bus or train and met someone who made the long ride a pleasure? We all posses that ability, but the desire to bring it out depends on each of us a individuals.

We are all on a train ride with the same destination, embracing this does not limit our possibilities it simply reminds us of the ones we have and quite possibly the ones we have not even seen yet. We can look at it this way: Do not pursue what should be, but understand what is, for there you will find the greatest gift of them all - your life.

Have a beautiful day and make the ride a little smoother for the other passengers today!

Peace and Love, Jim