Looking out over the Potomac River this morning, I cannot help but to think of a refrigerator plaque my godchildren, of Oregon, sent me some years ago. It reads, “Success is a journey, not a destination.”
The river has much success in its journey as it fills the creeks and ponds along its route. There is the success of the treasures it brings to humans and other forms of life as it travels along as well as the beautiful scenery it to the land around it. Many find joy in riding across its waves as well as walking along its beaches to watch its many facets. Watermen find it “a way of life”. 

     It is in reflecting on these things, that I begin to see that Jesus as my pilot, at an early age, made me choose different hero’s and role models than the secular world. For example, Elvis sang pretty but he was not my “king”; The Grateful Dead did not have me following them around the country; and though I enjoyed many singers, like Perry Como, they were not my idols. I’ll admit some songs make me teary-eyed because I’m so sentimental. If I had to pick a baseball “hero” it would have to be Cal Ripkin as he has many qualities we would like to see in our young people.

     It is a time when we think of hero’s as we remember Memorial Day just past and July 4th is upon us. So, who were my heroes as I traveled along the journey of life and who are they today?
vSurely there are the men and women who have served in the military so I could travel my journey in a free country. We owe a great debt to them. Then there was my Mother, my greatest earthly hero. There were the Sunday School Teachers, pastors, many of the public school teachers, and mentors like my cousin, Mary Herbert Rowe and my Christian brothers and sisters. 

     Some years ago, I did a series for a local newspaper, called “Sages of Inspiration” and these thirteen people were among my heroes. I had many others on the list that I wanted to write about but newspapers often have different ideas than people. How many people of seventy-two could have their first grade teacher smile her beautiful smile for them as she celebrated her birthday recently with her lovely daughters? How many could see one of their heroes celebrate his ninetieth birthday while still helping to care for “his” town, Montross? He grew up in Coles Point, you know, and walked from his farm at what is now “Grandview” to our little village church which his family helped establish. 

     How could I ever forget Effie Barns Godman, who spent 105 years showing people what it was like to “walk with God”? My success along the journey of life is the effect my life has had on the hundreds of children and adults who have traveled with me. I have asked God’s forgiveness for those in front of whom I have placed a “stumbling block”. 

     It is good not to have to be concerned about the success I’ll have when I reach my destination because that has already been promised. Life is not easy; some days are most difficult, but we know the difficult days of the journey have made us stronger and wiser for the days, years ahead as we travel on the journey of life.

© 2001 Florence Jenkins Muse All rights