My Road Trip

Sooo since I have not posted for a couple of days i decided to post something that i wrote a while ago, until I post my next blog(which is coming soon)!.

Its always good to remind yourself of things sometimes!!!

Enjoy!

P.S its kinda long!

Originally Written-Sunday, January 4, 2009

Every College student loves a Road Trip. If you actually think about it, what is there not to love? After a long week of classes, work, never ending papers, extracurricular activities, all nighters, bad food, and bad weather if you happen to be a student at Syracuse University, what could be better than piling into a car with a group of your closet friends? A car filled with a bunch of snacks, CDs, your I-pod of course, bags filled with things that you will find no use for in the two short days you will be away, and of course your homework that you have told yourself repeatedly that you will get to at some point on the trip, knowing deep down inside that you will never open your book. What could be better than getting into a car with the hopes of reaching a destination where you can at least temporarily leave all the issues of the week behind?

Flipping through an Essence magazine one night in the library I stumbled across an advertisement for a conference that was being held in Washington, D.C., and immediately thought to myself that this conference would give me and my closet friends at school an excuse to leave campus for a while. After running the idea by my roommate who happened to be sitting right next to me, we immediately began to plan for what would turn out to be one of the most meaningful trip I have every been on.

After renting a car, booking a hotel room, map questing directions, and getting directions from my line sister who lives in D.C., three of my friends and I pilled into the smallest economy size car that the rent–a-car company had to offer, and after making a couple of stops around campus headed down the highway to Washington D.C. With of course our snacks, CD’s, I-pods, bags filled with things we did not touch once on the trip, and yes the homework we never completed.

We arrived in DC later that night, after getting pulled over by the police once, stopping at a few rest stops, listening to good music, and having great conversation.

In D.C we attended the conference, visited friends, and had a great time. After enjoying ourselves in D.C it was time to retrace our steps and head back to Syracuse, determined to make it in 4 hours.

After driving through almost five different states, and three major cities, and hearing an announcement on the radio indicating that were in the tri-state area, and being surrounded by signs welcoming us to New Jersey we realized that we were not heading in the right direction. Not only were we not heading the right direction we had no idea where we were, and had no idea how to get back to Syracuse. After calling my parents with hopes that they could miraculously figure out where we were, and put us back on the right track and realizing they were of no help, we pulled over in the hopes of figuring a way to get home. Thankfully we remembered a friend who lives in Philly we called him and he knew exactly where we were, four hours away from school even though we had already been on the road for four hours.

Once back on the road, finally heading in the right direction I began to seriously think about what I was experiencing, and all I could think about was life. I began to see just how similar life was to the trip that I was on, and how the many things around me could easily be seen as some of the people I come into contact with, and some the things I experience. So with the help of my friends in the car, and my father I began to focus on all the things around me, and tried my hardest to take in the lesson that God was trying to teach me and not focus on the four hours already spent going in the wrong direction.

If you take the time to seriously think about it, life is just like a Road trip. In life we all have goals, things we are working towards no matter what they might be, and in order to reach them we experience things, learn things, meet people, and do things that make it harder or easier for us to accomplish our goals. Likewise on a Road trip we encounter things that make it easier or harder for us to reach or destination.

Sometimes in life we go through things in order for us to learn, and it is so important that when we find ourselves in situations that are hard, frustrating, or even situations that are happy, and fulfilling that we take the time to think about why we are experiencing what it is we are going through. God is constantly trying to teach us things and the way He does it sometimes is through the things he allows to happen to us, in my case, four hours heading towards New Jersey instead of Syracuse, New York.

By the time we got back to school it was 4 am. I was truly thankful for getting lost, because I was able to seriously reflect on something’s in my life, things that I would love to share with you. These are just some of the similarities of my trip to not only my life, but your life as well.

The Passengers in the car!

Backseat Driver #1- In life as you try to achieve your dreams you will come into contact with people who you can consider sleepers. During the trip to DC, and on the way back to campus one of my friends slept the entire way. She slept through each of the cities, the traffic, missed the scenery, the music, and the conversation, hardly realizing that we were lost. She woke up every so often, at each and every single rest stop, and finally when we reached our destination. The sleepers in your life are those people Friends or Family who accompany you on your journey; they are physically there with you each and every step of the way. They are there when you go through your problems, achieve success, and learn the lessons of life. Although they are present the sleepers in your life offer little help, and no guidance. The sleepers in your life pop up every once in a while in the hopes of comforting you through your pain, celebrating with you when you have accomplished great things, and once the journey is over and you have reached your destination they are wide awake , ready and willing to experience all of what your hard work has to offer. Although the sleepers in your life are of no help along your journey, they may or may not serve purpose once you reach your destination.

Backseat driver #2- Along with the sleeper in the backseat was my friend who was wide awake for the entire ride. She unlike the sleeper did not miss any of the traffic, she saw all of the scenery, heard the music, and added to the conversation, she was fully aware that we were lost and although not able to assist in the driving, or give any directions, she was there physically, and mentally each and every step of the way. She offered her assistance, and comfort whenever she could. Along the journey of life you will come into contact with people who are just like my friend, they are your friends and family who are with you each and every step of the way. They offer their love, their guidance, advice, and support. When you go through the good times, and the bad times they are there, they never give up on you and they are there when you finally reach your destination to celebrate with you. Unlike the sleeper they understand what you went through in order to reach your destination, and if necessary they can easily remind you of some of the things you had to go through, and the things you learned on the way. These people may not always have the answers, and are not able to take over in times when you are too weak but you know that you can always count on them to be with you each and every step of the way.

Passenger Seat/ The other driver- For long trips very often it is essential that we have another experienced driver in the car, someone who is willing, and able to take over when we are tired, weak, and unable to focus. On my trip I had my friends who took over the driving when I was weak, and unable to continue, or simply just needed a break. In life we have people, who we can trust to help guide us to our goals. These people have the same destination in mind, and can help to navigate the way.

The Cell Phone and the People you call- The cell phone, many of us never leave home without it, if you are like me your cell phone is never out of your sight. On the trip the cell phone was essential, with the phone my friends and I were able to talk to people who were not on the trip with us, people who we could inform of our progress, and ask for directions. When the people who were not traveling in the car with us needed to check on our progress they reached us on our cell phones. The people, who contacted us on our cell phone throughout our trip, are the people in life that you know that you can always call on. Although they are not physically there with you as you go along your journey, they want you to reach your destination and will do whatever it is they can to ensure that you get there. These people offer guidance, comfort, and are usually just one call away.

Cops- Yes we did get pulled over once on our road trip, and of course we were not that happy about it. Although being pulled over by the cops was not a pleasant experience, it is important to remember that in life we might get pulled over by the cops once or twice. Cops are the people or things that reprimand you when you have done something wrong; they scare you a little, and have the authority to punish you. We need cops in our life, because if you want to admit it or not there are times in life when you may lose focus, or get a little out of control, and you need someone or something to put things back into perspective for you.

Flat tires- No we did not get a flat tire, but at one point we thought we had one and actually pulled over to check. But just think what it would have been like if we did have a flat tire (smh). Sometimes in life we get a flat tire, we run into things that not only slow us down but bring us to a complete stop. The flat tire might be so bad we want to give in and stay flat. A Flat tire could be a tragic experience, a problem, or a joyful experience that causes us to completely stop. And although it might be hard to change the tire, it is important to remember that no matter what your flat tire might be eventually it will be fixed, and you can continue on your journey.


The other Vehicles - Although there were other vehicles on the road they were not headed in the same direction as us. Each and every vehicle had its own destination, in life we are surrounded by people who might be traveling in the same direction as us, but have totally different destinations. These people might be our classmates, our friends, and co-workers. It is so important that we never become distracted by the goals of others; always keep in mind where it is that you are trying to go. Never be intimidated or afraid of others who are on the same journey who seem to be driving a litter faster, keep focus, and keep your destination in mind.

The Person who eventually Gives the Right you directions- What would we have done if we had not contacted our friend who was able to give us the right directions? Sometimes in life you have to pull over and ask for direction. Directions from God or from people who know where it is you are trying to go, and what it is that you are trying to accomplish. God is always there to give you the right direction, and he also places people in your life who can give you direction because they understand what you are going through, and very often have been through it themselves. We must always be ready and willing to receive direction, and most importantly not to be afraid to ask for it.

Traffic- If you have ever been stuck in traffic you know how annoying, and draining it can be. No road trip would be complete without traffic, and likewise life would not be complete without traffic. Sometimes as we strive to accomplish things we run into traffic, there are times when things seem to be at a standstill, and we get frustrated, and tired, and worried that we will not reach our destination in time, or achieve our goals on time. When stuck in the traffic jams of life it is so important to remember that although you might be stuck in traffic for hours, all traffic jams eventually clear. You might be going through something difficult in your life and it is important to remember that whatever it is it will eventually pass, and God will see you threw it. It is in the traffic Jams of life that God is testing our patience, and faith, and teaching us the things he feels we should know in order to complete our journey.

Gas- We would not have been able to reach our destination without any gas in the car, and getting gas would have been impossible if it were not for the many gas stations that we passed along our journey. In life you need something that will keep you going. I am truly grateful that I believe in, and serve a heavenly father who is my Gas. A God who keeps me going, and will ensure that I reach wherever it is that I am going in a timely and safe manner. I know that I can never run out of the gas that he provides me because throughout life I know that I can stop at several gas stations and he will fill me up with whatever it is that I need faith, knowledge, acceptance, and courage.

And finally the signs- When was the last time you have found yourself on a road without any signs, whether it be a street sign, a stop sign, or a one of those big sighs on the high way. Signs are what eventually got us back to Syracuse and without them I am almost positive that we would have never made it back. In life God gives us so many signs, signs that come in many different forms; they point us in the right direction. On the road all we have to do is pay attention and look up every so often to see the signs. In life all we have to do is pray and ask God to give us the signs that will point us into the right direction, and never forget that they are always available.

And the list could go on and on.

I urge you to evaluate the sleepers in your life, Thank God for those who are wide awake, and the people you can count on to take over when you are too weak to continue the journey on your own. Appreciate the people you can call on when you need direction, and learn your lessons when you get pulled over by the cops. Don’t be discouraged when you get stuck in traffic, or get a flat tire. Remember that not all the vehicles around you are going in the same direction as yours and it is important to focus on the present, and all the things going on around you. Lastly, I urge you to remember to follow all the signs, and stop once in a while for gas, and not forgetting to thank God for the things and people that will put you in the right direction.