By Pastor Anthony L. Scott
Albert Einstein, the great physicist, was once travelling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.” Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry. I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.” Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.” Without the ticket, he was unsure of his destination.
In the language of all people, as far back as we can go, life is a journey and we are depicted as travelers. These images and metaphors indicate to us what those who lived before our time found life to be. Along the roads of life we encounter areas for rest and reflection. The end of one week and the beginning of a new one is one of those places.
A greeting card once read, “Here is hoping that in your new week there will be nothing the matter with you that money cannot cure.” This was a sincere wish but misguided. There are things on our journey which money cannot cure. The ills of the spirit and sickness of the heart are pains for which money has no remedy. There are hungers which wealth cannot feed and blinding storms from which treasure can offer no shelter.
Once we are aware of ourselves as pilgrims on a journey then the real meaning of life becomes vivid. Strangely enough, when we settle down as citizens of this world, life itself becomes a mystery and a riddle. With the correct view of life as a great gift and divine opportunity, our capacity to get the most out of life becomes a reality. Sadly, most never discover this correct view and ultimately endure life rather than enjoy it.
The Fine Art of Living amounts to matters of discrimination and transportation. Knowing what to take and what to leave is one of the finest arts. Security changes at our nation’s airports have drastically limited the amount of luggage we can take. I have discovered I can make it with less just fine. How much worthless baggage do we carry from one week to the next that hinders our ability to advance and discover the real meaning of our existence?
A tiny girl was taking a long journey and in the course of the day her train was obliged to cross a number of rivers. The water she could see in advance always awakened doubts and fears in the child. She did not understand how it could safely be crossed. As they drew near the river, however, a bridge appeared and furnished the way over. Several times the same thing happened, and finally the child leaned back with a long breath of relief and confidence: “Somebody has put bridges for us all the way” she said in trusting content. This is the secret of The Fine Art of Living, knowing that God has built bridges for us all along the way.
