So often we are reminded that life is about the journey, not the destination. This couldn’t be more true, and yet we waste an awful lot of time worrying about the destination, all the while we are missing the best parts of the journey. There is something different in my choice to attend church now than any other time in my life previously. I found myself very aware of my “journey” through church today, and somewhere along the way, I noticed the difference.

The journey started with some early morning coffee with my wonderful husband, and that bled into our “getting ready” routine. We often drive separate because choir means early arrival for me. However, today we decided to ride together, so he sat in the sanctuary and watched while we got warmed up and ready to go. As usual, I enjoyed our time together as a choir prior to the start of services. Our choir is filled with so many truly incredible people, and the women in the alto section with me have become precious and treasured friends.

After we sang in the first service, I found myself captivated by the words of my pastor. He just started a series on “Brokenness” as a result of the experience we all shared last Sunday, and it is a topic that many of us really need addressed. As I sat listening to his words, I was struck by what a tremendous shepherd he is of our congregation. It was then that I realized how different my motivation and attitude is towards church attendance than it used to be. I find myself soaking up the love and the spiritual growth each and every Sunday.

This change stayed prevalent in my mind, and it seems the strength of spirit was with the rest of my choir family as strongly as it was with me. Our worship during the second service was powerful, so much so that my husband even commented on it. I used to focus on getting to church so that I could get back home…I wanted to check the box and roll on. But now, I go to church because I benefit so much from the journey of being there. Every Sunday I am blessed with precious moments. Moments of laughter and silliness. Moments of deep spiritual connection. Moments of love and true compassion.

If I stayed focused on the destination, I’d miss all of the gifts God sends me all along the way there! That’s why we’re told to “stop and smell the roses” or, basically, take time to notice all the beauty surrounding you each day. We will always have plenty of the ugly to see in life, if that is where we choose to keep our focus. However, where there is ugly, there will also be beauty. To understand hot, you must know cold. To recognize soft, you must experience hard. To appreciate the have, you must go through the have not. Ebb and flow, give and take. It’s all about balance and perspective. When the sky dumps rain, we often find ourselves wet and inconvenienced. But as a result of the rain, the grass, flowers, trees, gardens, and animals are blessed with a much needed tool for sustaining life and promoting growth.

When it’s raining in your life, do you focus on the mud, or look for the blooms?