angelic_magic
Fond du Lac, WI
58, joined Jul. 2008
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Rev. Hastings is the author of the internationally recognized and acclaimed essay, "The Station" (c) 1980. "The Station" is not in the public domain even though it was widely reprinted in the syndicated newspaper columns of Ann Landers with permission from Robert J. Hastings. Its message of living the journey of life now, each day, struck a powerful chord with the reading public. Untold numbers of clippings of "The Station" made their way into Bibles, drawers, envelopes, wallets, and personal effects. Many readers reported changing the course of their lives after reading "The Station". The essay was reprinted in Reader's Digest and various anthologies, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. "The Station" first appeared as an editorial which was further adapted and painstakingly reworked by Dr. Hastings. This accounts for some differences found in published versions. He felt that the reading of "The Station" out loud or silently to one's self should invoke the feeling and rhythm of riding on a train....
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 passing scenes of cars on nearby highways,
of children waving at crossings,
of cattle grazing in distant pastures,
of smoke pouring from power plants,
of row 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 through college. . .
buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . 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 out distances us.
Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream.
Yesterday belongs to history, tomorrow belongs to God.
Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise.
Only today
...........is there light enough to love 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 regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.
Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
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.
It's not the end of the journey that counts..
it's the ride
The Station will come soon enough.
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imtaldie
Wausau, WI
38, joined Feb. 2008
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warren12369
Milwaukee, WI
62, joined Sep. 2008
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Chill out 
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