Life is like a Highway

Many people are cruising down the highway of life without a map (vision), confident they are going in the right direction. The fact that so many people are going in the same direction reinforces this assumption. However, as they travel they periodically see people flying pass them on the left, going in the opposite direction. Pride quickly rises up in them as they assume these people are going the wrong way. After all, there are millions of people doing what they are doing. “Not all these people can be wrong,” they say to themselves.

Regardless of their reasoning and vast knowledge of life, they continue to see people flying pass them on the left, going in the opposite direction. In addition, those going in the opposite direction are always alone. They are never traveling with or following a crowd. In fact, crowds are following them. Some consider them to be either crazy or trail blazers. Eventually, this phenomenon sparks curiosity in the observing driver, who now wants to understand what all of this means.

Unfortunately, fear quickly rises up within them and tells them to stay the course, because it is easier to do what everyone else is doing than to stand out from the crowd. As this person continues to follow the crowd, they begin to think that maybe the crowd is going the wrong way, and not those going in the opposite direction. This crowd may possibly be cruising down the highway of life without a map (vision). If so, then they cannot possible know where they are going.

“Therefore, why am I following them?” they say to themselves and immediately begin to slow down. Within seconds, they pull over to the side of the road to contemplate what to do next. Once you realize that you are going the wrong way, please do not continue to drive out of pride. Pull over, take a moment to think about your life and make the necessary changes. Type new directions into your GPS (mind and heart) and allow it to guide you to where you need to go – Destiny.

Another analogy is this; many live their lives like a ship on the sea without a rudder. As a result, every wave of social change and wind of immoral compromise, tosses them like a toy with no end in sight. The stormy rains (challenges of life) beat down upon them – forcing their square peg life to fit into the round hole of conformity. This process brings them far beneath their potential and far away from their Destiny.
Unfortunately, the world we live in is not tolerant of everyone becoming successful or rich, although there is enough money for everyone to live comfortably. However, having a lot of money should not be anyone’s ultimate goal in life. Many rich people have become slaves to their own prosperity. When the stock market is up, they are emotionally up. When the stock market is down, they are emotionally down. If the stock market plummets, so do they – splat on the sidewalk outside of their high-rise office building.

They made six-figures, had a nice company car, and a benefits package that most people do not know exist. They put their hopes and dreams into something that did not have their best interests at heart. In fact, it lied to them. It told them that all they needed to be happy was to make a lot of money and possess a lot of stuff. In addition, the more you have the more taxes, insurance and other fees you will have to pay to maintain or protect them. It can quickly become overwhelming to say the least. Many rich people have so much debt from impulse buying, to “Keep up with the Jones’,” that they are technically no better off than a person making less than 50k a year.

For many, “getting paid” is their only goal in life. They strive so hard and for so long to get money that it becomes an addiction. No matter how much they have, it is never enough. They prosper financially but their souls remain empty and void of life. Sadness hovers over them like dark clouds on what was supposed to be a sunny day (life). In all their pursuing, they failed to pursue their Destiny, which could have brought fulfillment for their soul, which cries out to them daily. The conclusion of a life lived this way is vanity and vexation of spirit. When money becomes your only pursuit in life, you really become poor in spirit – shallow.

You have to understand that money is merely a tool and should never become your identity. Money is a tool for living, helping others and fulfilling our Destiny. Unfortunately, many strive to accumulate a lot of stuff, thinking it will somehow add to their self-worth. The more they have the more valuable they feel. Their identity is based upon their material things rather than the content of their character. They fail to understand, that true value or lack of value is solely based upon one’s character – nothing more. This is important to know because we can only produce what we are on the inside whether good or bad.

Since success is relative, we should view it in the context of our Destiny. Only then will we know what true success looks like for us. When you really think about success, it is about what fulfills you and makes you glad that you are alive. It is usually the simple things in life, like watching a baby take his or her first steps. Then years later, watching that same child, walk across a stage to receive their high school diploma. Unfortunately, those who only measure success by money and material things seem more concerned with impressing people rather than impacting them.