So(ul)journ!

“Which is more important,” asked Big Panda, “the journey or the destination?”
“The company,” said Tiny Dragon.

That little bit of wisdom popped up in my social media feed this morning, and it reminded me of the important moments I’ve had the pleasure and honor of participating in.

In January, I helped Jacki move to Barahona, Dominican Republic, as she began her missionary year with The Least of These Ministries (also known as Amor y Esperanza). I marveled as our friend Ricardo helped us set Jacki up in her apartment. In the short space of four days, we managed to gather all the necessary furniture and appliances. I remarked at the time that it felt like I was setting up one of our children in their college dorm. And before I knew it, I was on my way back home, and Jacki was well established for an exciting year.

Since that time, Jacki has returned home for a visit, just as Lent was drawing to a close and Easter approached. Our daughter’s family visited her in-laws in Arizona (they visited us at Christmastime), and Jacki was determined not to miss out on her grandsons being stateside. The scheme was hatched that they would all converge in Moab, Utah. Jacki headed west, joined up with our son Wes, who lives in Colorado, and together they drove to Moab. They got their fill of being Funcle and Nana while yours truly attended to the events of Holy Week back home.

Immediately after Easter, a large group of us traveled back to the Dominican with Jacki for a week of mission work. Together, we built a home for a widow and her four young children. Her house had burned down last fall, and the children’s father had died suddenly, leaving this woman without a home and a husband. Using construction methods suitable for the batey (village) where she lived, we arrived to find a roof standing on wooden pillars and left with a home—complete with exterior walls, windows, and doors, as well as several divided interior rooms.

We’re always quick to remind the team: the project is not the project. Rather, it’s the relationships we foster between ourselves, the family, and the rest of the people we meet that truly matter. The company along the way. And I have to say—our team was wonderful. Four youth. Two young adults. Several adults, and a couple of us older adults. Even our host mentioned this had been one of the best mission groups in a while—everyone participated at their comfort level, and all of us left having become richer for the journey.

In February, Wes mentioned he was going to visit Iceland and Norway come May and invited his friends to join him. When it seemed none of them could take advantage of the opportunity, I asked if I could join him in Iceland. And the plan was hatched: we would meet up in Reykjavik and explore the land known for fire and ice.

Over four days, we traveled the South Shore, where the landscape is dramatically volcanic—twisted earth and jagged lava formations, strewn with multicolored moss that tries to soften the roughness. The South Shore gives way to steep-sloped mountains and pastured lands that have been farmed for more than a millennium.

We traveled the Golden Circle and visited long-dormant volcanic craters, now filled with turquoise lakes. We saw geysers, and visited Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet—literally, west meets east. It was here that early settlers devised a form of representative government that met during the midsummer festival to arbitrate and resolve grievances. The Althingi (their parliament) has been meeting off and on for more than a thousand years. Wes and I hiked in this area, crossing from Eurasia to North America and back again. What an amazing reality!

On Sunday evening, we visited the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, staying at the Lava Resort in Miðhraun. We enjoyed a thermal soak, and Wes took a cold plunge in a nearby pond. Dinner was lovely—a special vegan meal prepared for my son, while I enjoyed local lamb and roasted vegetables. The next morning, we took in the sights under what I’d call “changeable” weather—rainy, cloudy, windy, with moments of sun, and then more rain. One local asked about our touring. When we said we had just left the Golden Circle, he smiled and replied, “Ah, and you’ve come to the Diamond Circle today.” It truly was an amazing place—when the sun came out, the land and people shined.

What a grand adventure we had. It’s hard to believe the trip was coming to an end just as it seemed to begin. The next day, Wes needed a ride to the airport to continue on to Norway, and later that day, I flew home so I could attend an evening meeting at church. Not to worry, though—more trips are planned in the coming months, including a return to Iceland, this time with Jacki.

I know I’ve spoken of several trips involving both a journey and a destination. I’m blessed to have had the resources to take in these experiences—but even more so, I’m grateful for the people who’ve accompanied me along the way.

Life, itself, is a journey. There’s a beginning and a destination, and in between, we are blessed with good and wonderful people who keep us company along the way.

It’s a good reminder—and with a thankful heart, I can say: I’ve had some incredible company.

What about you? Have you had any recent journeys—big or small—that reminded you how much the company matters? I’d love to hear where you’ve been, who you’ve been with, or even where you’re hoping to go. The road’s always better when we swap stories along the way.