Author: Dan Hanna

The Station
Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire
continent. We’re traveling by train and from the windows we drink in the scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waiving at crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of rows upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls……
But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination. For at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the
station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true.
So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station……………
“Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it,” we promise
ourselves. “When we’re eighteen—win that promotion—put the last kid thru college—-buy that 450 SL Mercedes Benz—pay off the mortgage—have a nest egg for retirement.”
From that day on, we will all live happily ever after. Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station
is an illusion — it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday’s a memory, tomorrow’s a dream — Yesterday’s a fading sunset, tomorrow’s a faint sunrise — Only today is there light enough to live and live.
So gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away — It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.
“Relish the Moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalms 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will
rejoice and be glad in it” — So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles — instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more
babies, count more stars — Laugh more and cry less — Go barefoot
oftener — Eat more ice cream — Ride more merry-go-rounds --
Watch more sunsets — Life must be lived as we go along.
Robert J. Hastings
Art Brown—Scribe