Wednesday Wonder

Done. Done. Done.

This word keeps coming up with my grandson. It is the clearest word he has next to Mama and Dada. When he has had enough of a particular game or activity. “Done.” When he has finished eating. “Done.” When someone else’s plate is empty. “Done.” While it might sound annoying. I find it adorable. And it beats the word ‘No!’ Which I am sure we will be hearing plenty in the next few years.

However, this word has me thinking. Do we get caught up in being done? In having arrived? Do we remember to enjoy the journey of becoming who we are each day? I am not sure we do. I love to tell people we are human beings not human doings. But it is hard to be and not do.

Someone used the phrase ‘embrace the season of becoming’ and I really like that. That season of becoming really is our whole lives. We are always growing and learning, at least we should be, so the season of becoming lasts. Becoming means we have not yet gotten to the place we are going. It means we have not yet arrived.

In a world where we want instant responses, instant gratification, instant ‘likes’, it is hard to embrace a journey that lasts decades. Taking the time to enjoy the journey can be difficult. We want done and done.

Sometimes I think that even when we embrace the journey of becoming our checklist mentality gets in the way. How far have we come? What can I check off the list of things I wanted to learn, or do, or accomplish? We are still looking toward having arrived. It is human nature.

Maybe we need to be more intentional about the journey? Maybe this is easier when you are retired? But we do tend to ask what does ‘done’ and ‘arrived’ look like? Once we look there we tend to stop becoming and worry about arriving. We tend to set parameters to measure how far we’ve come and when we feel we have gotten there. Damon’s new fascination with ‘Done’ makes me think more deeply about this.

If Easter brings new life, what does that look like? Is it always evolving or is it completed? The journey of faith is never completed. And if we think it is, and that we have all the answers we are in trouble. The resurrection may have completed the promise, but, for the disciples it was a symbol that the work was just beginning. They would have to work on their faith, their message, their ability to get it across, their staying power.

The actual day of resurrection was just the beginning of their new lives and it still took them weeks after all the resurrection appearances to leave their hiding places and get on with it. How were they behaving in their season of becoming? Did they ever think they had arrived?

My life seems to be a constant time of change, growth, evolution and learning. To say nothing of setbacks and disappointment. How about you? And yet, I still think about when I might arrive where I want to be. Still focussed on arriving. Maybe I need to change the focus to keep learning and becoming. Will likely never arrive. So, let’s embrace the journey.