No. 373 Honeythorne stood at the end of the street, just before the road
curved towards the street gate that led into another street. Its numbers were askew, as though someone had tried to rip them apart but had failed.
This was what drew my attention to wonder the name of the street this
skewed ‘373’ was on.
The entrance to the street had no sign, but the gated end had a metal signpost shaped like an arrow that read ‘Honeythorne’.
But, there was no ‘road’, crescent, avenue or street on the sign at the gate that signalled the end of the street, or at the beginning.
I ended up there while taking a morning walk; on that day, it was the longest morning walk, or so it seemed to me. But my watch showed I had only walked 1.8km!
Since my 4km walk was not done, I kept going, and I turned onto a street that seemed familiar, but I was not sure where it led.
It seemed new, with houses that had been refurbished, but certain older houses made me sure that I had walked this street some years before.
Having walked the street to the end that day, and even now, I’m still not
exactly sure if I have walked on that street or not.
But, while walking down, I began to muse about the familiarity of the street I seemed to have walked some years ago, and where I was in my life at the time.
I almost went down the comparison hell hole, looking for areas to brag about how my life was much better now and was tempted to measure in what ways my life had changed or improved.
As I walked and mused to myself, I felt a nudge, like someone gently applying the brakes on my mind and placing a safety bar across my soul.
“Comparing themselves with others, are not wise”, I seemed to hear that scripture whispered in my ear.
Comparison is the thief of joy, even if the person you’re comparing to yourself is who you once were.
I refused to measure or look back, considering the metrics of success, but instead spoke out in gratitude and songs from my heart.
These were the thoughts that mattered most to me in that moment and for the rest of the walk: “ I survived, I battled, and I won”.
What matters going forward is that I’m still here, alive and well.
The dreams I once had then and hoped to pursue are still valid and even more assured and certain than they were when I last walked that street.
Whatever dreams, goals or desires that had not materialised yet did not stand against me in the form of judgement or regret.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of wishing, wondering what could have been, or where we would have been, and it less often than not produces feelings of sadness and ingratitude, so let’s make a promise from now on, we are not doing that here; not today, not ever again!
I’m grateful to be present, in this moment, whole and victorious.
I’m grateful for the journey of becoming, of growing and still full of hope, having received grace to grow and strength to thrive and pursue.
Those are the things that matter the most. You are here, and that’s a win, the biggest win.
PS: I discovered the real street I had been on years ago, and it was not
Honeythorne. The real street has no sign at the beginning, which explains why I got confused and could not remember if I had been on it or not.
There’s a beautiful nursery school signboard at the corner before you turn into the street, and that’s how I got to know the name, finally.
It’s called Milkwood Street, in Johannesburg South. Give it a hoot if you ever drive by!
In conclusion, God cares and is taking you to places you have never dreamed of, you are definitely not where you used to be, and you are moving forward.
While a certain amount of review of past events is healthy and important, so that we don’t repeat mistakes and improve, it is much more important to focus on today.
Choose to be hopeful about tomorrow, stay grateful and hungry for growth as you look to your future.
