As I reflect on my seventy-six years of life, I realize there are two things that stand out more than most: the first time I did something and the possibility that I may be doing something for the last time.
When we are young, life is filled with firsts. The first day of school. The first job. The first car. The first date. The first home. The first child. Life seems full of new adventures, new discoveries, and new experiences. We rarely think about endings because our focus is on beginnings.
As I have grown older, I have noticed that there are fewer first times. Most roads have already been traveled. Most experiences have already been lived. Yet every now and then, God still gives us a new first.
This trip that Carol and I are taking is one of those firsts. We are traveling through Northern California, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada on a road trip with no real agenda other than to enjoy the journey. I have driven many of these roads before, but always with a destination in mind. I was focused on getting from one place to another as quickly as possible. Carol, on the other hand, has always wanted to stop and smell the flowers, take photographs, explore small towns, and enjoy the scenery along the way.
This time I decided to slow down. Instead of focusing on where we were going, I decided to enjoy where we were. We stop when we want to stop. We take pictures when something catches our eye. We wander through towns we have never visited and take time to appreciate God’s creation. To my surprise, I have discovered that slowing down is actually quite enjoyable.
One of the things I wanted to do on this trip was visit family. At my age, I understand that none of us are promised tomorrow. I do not know if this will be the last time I see some of them on this side of eternity. That thought is not meant to be sad. In many ways, it has made these visits even more meaningful.
What has blessed me most is not the places we have seen but the people we have spent time with. Sitting together, sharing stories, laughing about old memories, meeting new family members, and simply being present has reminded me of what truly matters.
As I have reflected on this trip, I have come to realize that the older we get, the fewer first times we experience and the more aware we become of last times. The last visit with a friend. The last family gathering. The last road trip. The last opportunity to say the things that should be said.
None of us knows when those last times will come. Most of the time we experience them without even realizing it. That is why this trip has meant so much to me. It reminded me that life is not measured by the number of days we have left but by what we do with the days we are given.
One day there will be a last road trip. One day there will be a last family visit. One day there will be a last sunset, a last conversation, and a last goodbye. Knowing that does not make life sad. It makes life precious.
Perhaps that is the lesson God has been teaching me on this journey. Do not rush through life chasing tomorrow. Be present today. Enjoy the people He has placed in your life. Say the words that need to be said. Create the memories that need to be made. Because one day the first times will be gone, and all that will remain are the memories of how we spent our last times.
As I look back over seventy-six years, I am grateful for the many first times God has given me. But today, I find myself more thankful for the moments in between. The ordinary conversations, the shared meals, the laughter with family, the beauty of His creation, and the relationships that have shaped my life. Those are the things that endure.
This trip has reminded me that life is not about how quickly we reach a destination. It is about who we travel with, what we learn along the way, and whether we take the time to appreciate the blessings God places before us. In the end, it may not be the first times or even the last times that matter most. It may simply be that we were fully present for the time we were given.