As you’re growing up there are lots of role models for what is supposed to come next in your life. Parents, family, friends, neighbors, and teachers to name a few.

You clearly saw that you went to elementary school, then high school. Perhaps college, military service, or straight to work came next. Marriage was always a part of the journey and so were kids.

But from an early age you never got to see what life would be like when you hit your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. 

Sure, you saw your parents aging but nothing quite prepared you for what happens when your kiddos grow up and leave the nest.

And when the time comes – even though you know it’s coming – you somehow find yourself wondering, “how the heck did that happen?”

You might even ask, “did this ALL go like I had planned?”

Probably not would be my answer.

And you might be feeling a little lost in life now.

Last Sunday, I was reminded of this exact thing.

Our weekly hike didn't quite go as planned.

The group was unusually large. We had lots of new people join us -- at various levels of preparedness.

Some of the core group were missing.

And our intended planned route didn't quite match the actual mapped route we ended up taking.

Some might say those are ALL ingredients in a recipe for disaster — kind of like not being prepared for when your kids leave home.

When our hike ended, no one was worse for wear, we finished with the same miles and time on trail as planned, and life went on for all of us.

And that got me thinking -- how are our Sunday hikes a metaphor for our empty nest lives?

Sometimes life throws you a curveball.

New people will always come into your life -- some for a reason, some for a season, and some for life -- and old experiences fade into the background becoming precious memories.

In every situation, some people are prepared and others are not – think college move-in day!

Everyone's pace in life is different but all of us end up at the same destination.

When challenges arise it's the lens through which you view it that makes ALL the difference AND you really don't have to look far for people to help you out -- you just have to look.

What I want you to think about this week is this:

You're never truly lost, just on a different path from the one you intended to be on.

How will you use a different lens to view the unexpectedness in your life as it arises?

And will you reach out to someone for help when you need it?

Drop a comment and let me know.

Until next week, always remember...

Every step has purpose.

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