A Man Who Learned To Enjoy The Journey

They were called “the Big Red Machine” when I was a little boy. It was the days before the baseball strike and before Pete Rose was kicked out of the game for gambling. The Cincinnati Reds were my team and I loved to watch them.

The names of Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and later Eric Davis and Barry Larkin are etched in my memory. To be honest I do not remember the name of pitcher Frank Pastore. Over the last few days I have been reading his biography, Shattered, which is published by Focus on the Family.

This is not your typical “success story.” The book is a powerful record of God’s grace and how the Lord can take a shattered life and make something beautiful of it. As I neared the end of the book a familiar phrase captured my attention. Read Pastore’s testimony in his own words:

For many years I wanted life to look perfect, because then everything would be all right. But it never was perfect, of course. Trying to present a nice picture to the outside world was just an exhausting facade, doomed to crumble with time.

Now when I find broken pieces in my day, rather than thinking I’m doing something wrong, not exercising enough faith, not being disciplined enough, not being whatever, I tend to look up beyond myself to consider the bigger picture. Now I find a certain strange pleasure when life is in upheaval. I know that God is on the move.

And now I find that I’m not so driven toward arriving at a certain destination – like attaining professional prominence or achieving financial security. Now I don’t feel in such a hurry. Life these days is more about enjoying the journey, because I know that God has assured the destination.

Now, even though I almost hate to say it, I’m at peace with the pieces.

Are you enjoying the journey? Frank Pastore died at 55. His life had twists and turns, ups and downs, but he learned the great lesson of walking with the Lord.

Allow every broken thing in your life to remind you of the One who makes us whole. Ask God to help you rest in Him as you travel life’s road together. I pray that today you will learn to enjoy the journey…

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Listen to “Enjoying The Journey” each Monday through Friday online or by radio. You may find a full listing of broadcast times or subscribe to the podcast at scottpauley.org/broadcast.