Are You Enjoying the Ride?
November 24th, 2008 by admin
Are you enjoying your daily ride? In our rush-rush world, you tend to get caught up in the time game. Maybe you allot the minimum time between appointments, then get caught in a traffic jam, and proceed to worry the rest of the way about the consequences of arriving late. You feel your temper rising until it bursts out at the first motorist who dares to cut you off and, before you know it, the rest of your day is in shambles. Been there, haven’t you? Come on, ‘fess up; at least once in your life, right? I can’t be the only one that has happened to.
Yesterday was one of those days. I had included a whole five extra minutes in my neatly calculated appointment schedule. Backing out of the driveway, I hastily asked the Lord to direct me to the route that would have the least amount of traffic. Off I went, confident that I had “heard” right.
Although my signal lights were indicating a right turn, I felt the wheel pulling to the left. “Hey, what am I doing,” I thought, pressing my foot on the pedal, “I never go this way; this is not the fastest, most direct way!” Yet, I felt a strong impression to turn left. The route I followed winded through tree-lined streets with friendly homes and nicely manicured, flowered yards. Suddenly I was no longer in a rush.
Meandering along the slow curves, I suddenly heard very clearly: “How are you enjoying the ride?” Then again: “Are you enjoying the route I chose for you?” “Yes, Lord, Amen” I acknowledged, and promptly burst out in a song of praise. I realized I was raptly taking in the scenery, appreciating the flowers which added so much to my enjoyment, and felt totally at peace.
This route took me to the same expressway I had felt led to use. Yet, despite the slower speed limit, there were fewer stop signs than my usual road, making it just as time-efficient! Most importantly, it heightened in me the importance of loving the moment. It was a valuable lesson I don’t intend to ever forget.
The route itself is merely a means to an end. You have a divine purpose. The object is not to get to your destiny as quickly as possible. You must make a conscious effort to direct your focus to the beauty, potential, and opportunity in every single step of the journey.
Your road through life may have many curves, seem too dull and slow, or have many roadblocks and stop signs. If you listen closely to the Lord’s direction, you may find Him turning your “wheel” in a direction you’re not accustomed to.
Allow Him to lead you in all things and show you the marvels along the path He has prepared for you. He wants you to be malleable like putty in His hand so that you can be shaped into His purpose. “Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and he shall lift you up.” (Jas. 4:10)
Make it your priority to: “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord; and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Prov. 3:5-8)
You have heard no doubt the expression: “Stop and smell the roses?” That’s how the Lord wants us to live as much as possible. Take time to appreciate all the seemingly insignificant things along the way. He not only has created you to enjoy life, but has made all the provisions for it on the cross. As His child, He wants the very best for you.” Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)
In closing, as I was reconsidering the title, it just came to me that indeed your life’s journey is a ride! It is not a race; nor is it an arduous walk or uphill climb! “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deut.33:27) “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Ps. 91:11-12) Enjoy the ride!
Category: temper : 
November 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Should we really break our backs to reach our goals? What about enjoying the ride?
Why is it that some people want to spread their wings & fly while others want to come back down from the clouds?
November 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Because there not prepared for the future.
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Ideally, one would try to do both. Enjoy the ride it takes to achieving your goals.
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
y live life if u cant live it happily?
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I like the whole philosophy of enjoying the ride but unfortunately we live in a society where we need to face reality… I don't know what to tell you, some people are realists and have had reality hit them like a ton of bricks and those who are up in the clouds haven't really dealt with reality yet so they still live in an idealistic world.
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
it's all about balancing enjoying life while reaching goals
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
it depends on how badly you want what ever your after?
like me with my music; breaking my back to reach my goals is enjoying the ride.
the struggle to get somewhere just makes it so much sweeter when you finally reach your destination.
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
yea i agree with you i love just letting life be the line leader and let it take me to my destine!
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November 24th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
drop out… the race is a fraud,,, its not what its all promised to be……. al that nice houses and fast cars and beautifull women and all that nonsense you see on TV. Become a survivalist and join a militia and be prepared when the government tries to blow up another world trade centre
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Life is what you make it:
for some breaking their backs to reach their goals is heaven, while others prefer to just get by and enjoy life.
it all has to do with what your perseption of "enjoying the ride" is.
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
break our backs? No. perhaps reassess our goals. We should enjoy the ride, but all the while still doing the right thing. While we are on this "ride of our lives" we should be guided by a sense of honor, responsibility, and decency, and if we can soar with the eagles while doing that, then I say FLY.
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Gosh, good question. I think it's just that people get so caught up in becoming successful, that by the time that they die, they have never enjoyed life; all they ever did was work all the time to achieve a common dream. Sometimes, people should just sit back, enjoy the ride, and see where life takes them.
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
This is your last and only life : Live it well .
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
breaking your backs is whta its all about and its the hard way but it takes alot to get alot and people come down from the clouds because enjoyingthe ride if fun and easy and if u can do it and have time for it then go for it
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
You should not have to break your back, to reach your goal.
You only "fail," when you fall down, and "don't get back up.
In spreading your wings. You must remember.
You can not soar with the "eagles,"
when roosting with all the "turkeys." <}:-})
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
it just depends on how you want your life to go….
if you want a great career and not a real fun social life, BREAK YOUR BACK!!!!
~ OR ~
you can have a great social life and not have a perfect career but you ENJOY THE RIDE of life.
i think thats part of people understanding their life, weither they want friends for life….or money and a career. i think its up the person, and that they should do what they think is best for them.
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my point of veiw
November 24th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
it's never finished till you're dead. Anything you achieve will be fleeting and will eventually be taken for granted. Finished with level 2 and it's on to level 3. If thier is no next level then game over, what to do now but sit around.
I know people with broken backs, that will never heal, you will be in pain the rest of your life. We need to decide what do we mean by "breaking our backs" sometimes you want to get something done, we have time constarints and places we want to be. Things we want to get. And we make or judgements every second about what can I do and what is it worth. I do not like hard a fast rules but we must try our best to analyze the best course of action in any particular situation. Being dry and analytical probably doesn't leave room for "enjoying the ride." Logically, Why slack off when you can get things done. But enjoying the ride doesn't have to be slacking off i guess.
Sometimes we had too much excitement and need some down time, tired of running and flying, always being scared and unsure. Just wanna relax. Other people are bored and feel they need to get out and do. Both are likely a reaction to thier previous circumstances. It doesn't hit everyone at the same time nor for exactly the same reasons. Maybe one person can put up with boredom longer than someone else can. nobody wrong nobody right.
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Your question: "Should we really break out backs to reach our goals. What about enjoying the ride"?
ANSWER:
First, everyone's goals are different, so everyone's answer will be just as different. Here is mine:
Goals, whether small or large, are best achieved by daily, hourly or weekly work on them. Using a schedule to work on goals is always the best idea. This way, you will not feel like you are overworked and you will not feel like you are breaking your back at any time. You set a goal and then schedule a time each day to work on your goal. Once your time is up that day, you stop and begin again the next day.
If you have a goal that you want to reach in one day or if you are on a deadline, and if you, in reality do not have enough time to reach that goal, you might be better changing your goal deadline than trying to break your back trying to reach an unreachable goal.
If someone else has set the deadline then it is not YOUR goal. Usually when that happens, you are working for someone else. But even then, you have work rules and labor regulations that apply.
ANYONE can reach their goals without breaking their back if they just set realistic, normally-achieveable goals.
So, take it easy. Set goals that you can attain in your own good time. IF you do that, whatever your goal is , working one day at a time towards it , you will be successful and NO back-breaking work.
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http://www.youtube.com/superbooks7 This show was produced by someone setting good, attainable goals. So, you can do it also.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
You only get one ride - ENJOY IT!
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Simply because you will only get out of life what you put into it. If you never want to have anything than just spread your wings and fly…but if you want to have things and prosper you have to learn to work hard for everything you have. It only depends on what you want out of life. Even though material items are not the most important thing in life they are somewhat of a necessity and they do make life much easier and soooo much more bearable. Working hard and enjoying the fruits of your hard work is a plus in life.
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
yes, but.. you're scaring me… worse than bigfoot
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November 24th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Some people judge their self worth by what they 'acheive'. Some people just enjoy life regardless of what they have or don't have.
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