According to Wikipedia, films, particularly comedies, often climaxed in chase scenes. Some inexperienced screenwriters or directors would pad the film with unnecessary dialogue, which bored the audience and prolonged the time before the exciting chase scene. Cut to the chase was a phrase used by movie studio executives to mean that the audience shouldn’t get bored by the extra dialogue, and that the film should get to the interesting scenes without unnecessary delays. The phrase is now widely used and means “get to the point.” But should that phrase apply to our lives?
Folks seem to be in such a rush these days. We talk about work life balance, yet still write ourselves out of our own calendars. Instead of getting out of the office at lunchtime to eat lunch or workout, we gobble down a meal at our desk all the while banging out emails and such. Never taking a mental or emotional break in the action to recharge our battery is not healthy. When our obituaries are read, I doubt there will be an accounting of the hours we toiled working, or how many of our kids’ activities we missed because we chose to work instead, or how many weekends we blew off to finish that report. In other words, being a human doing rather than a human being. Even God rested on the seventh day.
There is more to life than a payoff at the end. Take time to enjoy the journey. If you drive in to work on I-90 coming east into town like I do, try taking a safe glance to marvel at the inland sea that is Lake Erie. Notice the beautiful city skyline. How about that family of deer that gambol in between the houses in your neighborhood as you make your way to the freeway? Yes, I know that they wreak havoc on your lovely Hydrangeas! Even overcoming some of the challenges we face can bring a sense of accomplishment, right?
Life’s rewards aren’t necessarily found only when we reach a destination, but rather throughout the journey towards that end. It is contained in the dash between the years on our headstones. That is what living is all about. Try setting aside the stress and anxiety brought on by that cut to the chase mentality for just a moment. Teach yourself to enjoy God’s marvelous creation. Not simply the landscape, but the people around you as well. Call a friend or relative when they cross your heart or mind, eat your lunch outside of the office sometimes, or simply take a brief walk for a coffee and offer a friendly greeting to a stranger that you may pass on the street. Remember, we are not only on our own journey, but are also part of the sojourn of others we encounter daily.
Truly enjoying the journey begins with the realization that we are all a part of a team in some form or fashion. Or to put it in movie terms, part of a cast and crew in our own film. We can saunter through the experience on our own in what can be a lonely undertaking, or we can take on life’s challenges and victories together. One of the great movie speeches of all-time is the one Al Pacino gives in the film Any Given Sunday, at half-time during the big game. It wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact but for the series of events leading up to that climactic scene where he draws parallels between football and life.
I am sharing it here for your enjoyment and inspiration to go out and enjoy the journey.
Go forth and fight for that inch my friends and see how your life will be the richer for it.
Cheers,
LP