Fulfillment is in the journey, not the destination...

It is almost a week ago that I very quickly and haphazardly packed a car up with the essentials (and without some) and headed of for the place that is to be my home for this year, George. And what a beautiful home it is! It inspires me to breath in deep breathes of fresh air, look beyond the road at the mountains while driving and for a non-morning person, it's not a bad reason to get out of bed at six O'Clock and for the first time in a long time, it's rewarding to see the sun below ten degrees in the sky!


The trip here was a lazy affair. Never before have I ambled along stopping at every photo opportunity, some just an excuse to stop and take my time rather than rush, on the route through the magnificent Karoo to the Cape East Coast. Most times, except of course with Brian as my travel companion, have been a race against the clock to make sure we make our destination with daylight to spare. This time, Colesberg seemed the obvious half way stop and where better to stay than on the banks of the Orange River, which was where the guest house I earmarked as my night stop was situated.





Vast fields of Sunflowers didn't speed past unnoticed, Windmills and lone trees became my travel companions and talking to cows about my journey wasn't frowned upon, night fall was the best opportunity to spot the enormous illuminated cross in Springfontein reminding me why I live! Having two days meant a late start on the second and plenty of time to slow down and notice Graaf Reinet, Willowmore and Uniondale (keeping an eye out for the elusive lady hitchhiker of Uniondale... apparently she doesn't like daylight hours). The Outeniqua pass allowed a glimpse from above of my new home and acclimatized my senses to an overload of sensory stimulation.

It is now with this attitude that I approach my new chosen path, it is not about arriving at the destination quickly, it is about noticing the things around us, and more importantly, people we encouter, it is about savouring every moment, every new experience, embracing mistakes as well as accolades and enjoying every step of the way. It is about serving people as we are able and blessed to do and to laugh with others and at ourselves. Already a week has "flown by" and too much has happened too express it all. I will endeavor to remember this revelation throughout my journey.

Looking for more?

Everybody seems to be looking for more... no matter how much they already have. By this I don't only refer to material possessions but seeking the thrill, the adventure, the recognition, the fame... We all "need" more, a constant craving driving us. We search for it in various ways, relationships (or lack thereof), achievements in careers, reputations amongst our peers, chasing dreams that don't matter as much as our ultimate purpose does. Why do we never seem to reach what we're chasing? Why do other's lives always measure up "better" than our own?

Firstly, comparing our lives to others is never going to satisfy our lust for more unless we learn to compare with those who have less than we do rather than those whose lives (or aspects of) we envy and covet. Those we're comparing ourselves to, are ironically comparing their lives with our own too because they're not satisfied either and you can be assured that there are aspects of your life that they would rather have than their own too! It's time that we realise that we all occupy a unique niche', we all have a purpose to fulfil. When we read Ecclesiastes we see how this wise old man considered this late in his life too and he concludes throughout that we will not find it in money, we will not find it in relationships (no matter how intimate), we will not find it in sexual pleasures, not in entertainment or in any measure of recognition or fame or in any of our own accomplishments. No doubt these may bring some temporary measure of satisfaction and even happiness but it's not going to last. Until we find our satisfaction in our source of life and purpose, we will be "chasing after the wind".

It is only through a living saviour, through pure grace and forgiveness of this selfish searching, through Jesus Christ that we will begin to find some sort of lasting fulfilment within all of those secondary attempts at finding true happiness. We are loved, we are significantly important, we do have purpose in this life and a hope to live with every day, we need no more!!

Living out of a travel bag...

I have just returned from Tanzania. A trip that took me to some of the most beautiful places on the face of the planet. Mnembe Island just north of Zanzibar has iridescent turquoise water surrounding it, I could not attempt to describe it in my most profound english... in this case, seeing is believing. I don't even think my camera could represent the contrast between white sands and turquoise water. I walked the streets of Stone Town, slept in a Sultan's palace and watched sunset from a dhow. I gazed upon Mt. Kilamanjaro above the clouds as we flew into Arusha and met people whose soul purpose in life is to live in harmony with the land they occupy and the people they call their neighbours. What more could you ask of a job you may ask? It sounds wonderful, glorious, even perfect... but I have painted the picture that exists in most people's minds. The reality is not what is perceived however. The reality, although not wanting to distort the beautiful images I have experienced, is a little less "perfect". It's exhausting carrying heavy camera gear, moving a tripod inches to the left, to the right, slightly higher or lower from sunrise 'till 10pm to create these images. It's frustrating organising people and itinary's to get the "contrived" image we search for, it's heartwrenching to watch beautiful sunsets through black and white viewfinders and it's a blatant lie to say I've experienced a place when I've been there all of three hours before moving to the next location. My bag remains packed between brief laundry stops at "home" and every time I close the door behind me I struggle to take my heart, soul and mind with me.



Having said this, I must thank the Lord my God and provider for sustaining me through these trips AND... despite the difficulties and frustrations, for the rich experiences that He has afforded me, for the vast variety of subjects I have been exposed to and for the wonderful people I have met along the way, people who have taught me through their hospitality, humility and simplicity.

The key to living a content, fulfilled life is this... Accept and embrace your present circumstances, find the positive aspects in all that you do and paint yourself the best possible picture because for all the smiling faces, white beaches and turquoise oceans, packed bags and goodbyes are a necessary evil, there really is a price for everything, the grass is never greener on the other side.