By Robert J. Hastings
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 outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a
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.
"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 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. The station will come soon enough.
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 outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a
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.
"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 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. The station will come soon enough.
The Station Author Official Website
Welcome to our family website! Robert J. Hastings is the author of the internationally recognized and acclaimed poem, The Station (c) 1980. It was widely reprinted in Ann Landers syndicated newspaper column by popular request spanning three decades. His metaphor of life as a train journey to be enjoyed instead of waiting impatiently for our arrival at the next station struck a powerful chord with the reading public. Untold numbers of clippings of The Station were put away into Bibles, drawers, envelopes, wallets, and personal effects for safe keeping or to share with loved ones. Many people around the world reported changing the course of their lives after reading The Station. The poem was reprinted in Reader's Digest, and various anthologies, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and read by Paul Harvey on his radio program. It has been used extensively in motivational, financial and life coaching seminars. The Station first appeared in The Illinois Baptist as an editorial by Dr. Hastings which he further adapted and painstakingly reworked. This accounts for differences found in published versions. He felt that reading The Station out loud or silently to one's self should invoke the building momentum and rhythm of a moving train.
The popular quote....Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today....is excerpted from The Station by Robert J. Hastings and was published in The New York Times, June 29, 2001.
A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Seminary, Dr. Hastings wrote inspirational books and material for Broadman Press and the Baptist Sunday School Board. He wrote an insightful autobiography titled A Nickel's Worth of Skim Milk about his childhood in Marion, Illinois, USA, during the Great Depression. It won the Illinois State Historical Society's Superior Achievement Award for 2004. Hastings also created and recorded the audio stories Tinyburg Tales (c) that currently airs on Bible Broadcasting Network. A minister for 55 years, Dr. Hastings preached thoughtful sermons and performed many weddings and eulogies. He baptized his first converts in a strip mine pond as a young minister at Crenshaw Crossing, IL. Later in his career, Hastings became a storyteller on radio and guest lectured at writing workshops.
The popular quote....Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today....is excerpted from The Station by Robert J. Hastings and was published in The New York Times, June 29, 2001.
A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Seminary, Dr. Hastings wrote inspirational books and material for Broadman Press and the Baptist Sunday School Board. He wrote an insightful autobiography titled A Nickel's Worth of Skim Milk about his childhood in Marion, Illinois, USA, during the Great Depression. It won the Illinois State Historical Society's Superior Achievement Award for 2004. Hastings also created and recorded the audio stories Tinyburg Tales (c) that currently airs on Bible Broadcasting Network. A minister for 55 years, Dr. Hastings preached thoughtful sermons and performed many weddings and eulogies. He baptized his first converts in a strip mine pond as a young minister at Crenshaw Crossing, IL. Later in his career, Hastings became a storyteller on radio and guest lectured at writing workshops.
