Getting there!

'Getting there!' is a response to questions like 'How are you?', 'Any progress with the . . . . (problem), or 'How's is your mother?'.

'Getting there!' indicates that some hopeful progress is being made, whatever the situation. 

Of course the response assumes that we all agree where the 'there' is, and that it is a desirable destination.

But the 'Getting there!' response might also be applied to major problems in the world, if a destination and direction could first be agreed.

It would be wonderful if Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, after their preliminary talks, could say, 'Getting there!', if that meant peace and justice for all concerned.

As followers of Jesus, we too should be able to say 'Getting there!' about our own discipleship. 

The writer to the Hebrews encouraged his friends to keep making progress. 'So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.' (Hebrews 6.1) Instead of going round and round, and never making progress, all of us should have a sense of direction and destination in our Christian lives. We should all be able to answer 'Getting there!' , if asked about our own following of Jesus.

Later, the writer tells us how we can make this progress. 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.' (Hebrews 12.1-2)

If we are serious about 'Getting there!' in our Christian lives, we must take action to ensure progress is possible. Like athletes who train hard and then strip off before competing, we need to take care that all we do helps us focus on Jesus, so that we are not distracted or diverted. He is the One who will ensure that really are 'Getting there!' 

Best wishes,

Richard