|
Life
Is Like A Train Ride
A
while back I read an interesting book that compared life to a train
ride or
a series of train rides.
Life
is like a train ride, we get on, we ride, and we get off. We get
back
on and
ride some more. There are accidents, there are delays at
certain
stops,
and there are surprises. Some of these will transfer into great
moments of
joy; some
will result in profound sorrow.
When
we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think
will be
with us for the entire journey. Those people are our
parents. Sadly
this is far from the truth. Our
parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. They,
too,
have
journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of
their
love,
affection, friendship, guidance and they're ever presence.
There
are others who board the train and who, in turn, eventually become very
important
to us. These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and
acquaintances,
which we will learn to love and cherish.
Some
people consider their journey like a jaunty tour and they will just
go merrily
along. Others will encounter many upsets, tears, and losses
on their journey. Others still will linger on to offer a helping
hand to
anyone in need.
Some
people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get
off. Some
people will get on and get off the train very quickly. They will
scarcely leave a
sign that they ever traveled along with you or even crossed your path.
Some
will sometimes be upset that some passengers whom we love, will choose
to sit
in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then
again, there's nothing that says we can't seek them out anyway. Nevertheless,
once sought out and found we may not even be able to sit next to them
because
that seat may already be taken. That's
okay … everyone's journey will be filled with hopes, dreams,
challenges, set
backs and goodbyes.
We
must strive to make the best of it … no matter what. We
must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for
the best in everyone.
Remember
that at every moment during our journey, anyone of our travel
companions can
have a weak moment and be in need of our help. We,
too, may vacillate or hesitate or trip. Hopefully we can count on
someone being
there to be supportive and understanding.
The
bigger mystery of our journey is that we don't know when our last stop
will
come. Neither
do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop. Not
even those sitting in the seat next to us.
Personally,
I know I’ll be sad to make my final stop ... I'm sure of it. My
separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the
train ride
will be painful. Leaving all those I'm close to will be a sad
thing.
But, then
again, I'm certain that one day I’ll get to the main station only to
meet up
with everyone else. They'll be carrying their baggage and
packages
most of which they didn't
have when they first got on the train. I’ll
be glad to see them again. I’ll also be glad to have contributed
to
their baggage and to have enriched their lives, just as much as
they will have
contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.
We're
all on this train ride together. Above all, we should all try to
strive to make
the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can. Right up until we
each
make the
final stop and leave the train for the last time.
All
aboard!
Safe
journey!
BON
VOYAGE!
Contributed
by
Kasha
De Mik
Defining
Moments
Archives
Copyright
© 2006, Jace Carlton. All International Rights Reserved.
|
|
