Real Journey

BY ELDER TAY TIONG CHOON

Some years ago, my family was at the Tokyo Disneyland. I remember vividly that we had to rush to queue for almost every ride, especially the thrilling and popular ones. Although it was meant to be a fun outing for the family, we were just so anxious to complete the rides given the time we had in the theme park. There was simply no time to relax and smell the proverbial rose, and even lunch was some quick snacks we grabbed along the way! 

The context aside, does this rushing about and feeling anxious sound familiar to you? Are we living our lives this way? The world we live in is hardly a theme park, but it can be likened to a make-belief world of thrilling rides and side shows.  We are all sojourners on our journeys of rides and side shows in this world.

If we use the week to describe our stages in life, some of the younger ones who are in their twenties are only at Tuesday afternoon, while some of us are already at Friday night or Saturday morning. Sunday 2359, one minute shy from twelve midnight, signifies one’s time is running out. Even in these last moments, there will still be many outstanding ‘rides’- places to go or things to do. I belong to the Saturday morning group, and I have yet to catch a glimpse of the Northern lights, watch the polar bear in the Arctic Circle, climb the Great wall of China before my legs become too weak.

I can appreciate that after being grounded for three years due to the pandemic, there is a pent-up desire to break loose and visit other places beyond the usual holiday season travel, a phenomenon known as the ‘revenge travel’!  I was, however, flabbergasted by the response of someone whom I spoke to recently.  She was obviously eager to travel, and when earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, she was saddened not so much by the misfortunate that befell the victims of the affected region, but for not being able to visit Turkey anytime soon!

For the many belonging to Saturday morning or thereafter, a common desire is to seek leisurely pursuits that eluded them before, such as hopping from one cruise to another, or taking endless holidays. This adrenaline rush to go on the different ‘rides’ that offer an experience of a lifetime is akin to the thrill-seeking and mad rush for the various riders in the theme park.  

There is nothing inherently wrong in all these, but if and when these pursuits become the mainstay of our earthly pilgrimage, then we have probably lost sight of God’s intended ‘real’ journey for us, one that fulfils our Creator’s purposes in our lives.   

A theme park joy ride is hardly a journey with lasting impact, and the thrill we sought dissipated quickly as soon as the ride was over. On this fifth Sunday in Lent, let us pause and examine our journey thus far.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  Let us be bold to embark on our ‘real’ journey, guided by our Perfect Guide, the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 21:6-7).