The Journey Continues: what journey?

Over the past several months I have gained new friends and new followers to this platform. Some of them - some of you - may be wondering why several of my posts have the words "The Journey Continues:" in the title. 

Over 10 years ago, as my first marriage was slowly crumbling, I leaned heavily on God to get me through the emotional strain. I relied upon my church and work families to help keep me grounded - to help keep me focused and moving forward. It was during this difficult time that I made the decision that I wanted to walk with God. I wanted to be on a journey with Him as I discovered more about Him, His Son, His Spirit, and how they could all effuse my life with joy, hope and peace. 

One of my joys was in reading and writing, which had been dormant during the years of my marriage. But as I was coming out of my first marriage, I rediscovered my joy of reading, which lead to my writing more. I read C.S. Lewis and Rachel Held Evans, but I did not read scripture. (I'll share sometime soon about my hesitancy to read scripture). I felt I was on a journey, but it was mostly a response to outside sources, such as the books I was reading, or our pastor's sermon. 

Six years ago I met my wife, a woman who loves God and Jesus, and as our relationship grew, I told her of my desire to walk with God. She encouraged me to take the journey, but never told me or gave me suggestions of HOW to take the journey: she left that up to me and God. What a blessing she has been as I have shared the high points, and even the discouragements, of this journey. But the blessing I least expected was to come in the form of a two-month medical leave. 

In the spring of 2022 I began to experience nerve pain in my hips, which was severe enough that I was put on medical leave for two months. It was during those two months that God blessed me with time to finally take the journey that I had been wanting to take. It was during those two months that I began to not just read scripture, but study it. To let it seep into my soul. It was during that time that I began to do daily devotions, which included scripture reading. It was during that time that I began a daily practice of time for prayer, which has developed into an integral part of my day. I felt that I had finally and truly begun the journey that I had been wanting to take since the dark days of my divorce.

This journey will end eventually, when I am in God's presence in His Kingdom. It is a journey that, while deeply personal, I do not wish to keep private. It is a journey that I share with you. 

May God continue to bless me, and all of us, who choose to journey with Him.