What is a journey? Well, the dictionary says it’s “the act of travelling from one place to another”. So, if we start at home and walk to school, we’ve been on a journey. If we get on a plane and fly to another country, that also a journey.
But there are other kinds of journeys as well. Several young people in the Knox congregation are graduating from High School this month. So they’ve just completed a long journey, travelling all the way from the beginning of kindergarten to the end of grade 12. And now they’re about to begin a new journey as they move on to university or other adventures.
For the past few months, we’ve all been on a strange journey together, learning new ways to do most of our day-to-day activities. We found new ways to shop for groceries and meet with friends. Some of us have learned to bake bread, and others have planted a garden. Many children have learned how to go to school through their computers and parents have learned to work from home. We’ve even had to learn how to go to church together online!
So no matter what kind of journey we’re on, whether it’s long or short or easy or hard, there is always something to learn from it.
What new things have you learned on your journey over the past few months?
How many different journeys have you been on?
How was your journey through school this year?
Talk to your parents about all of the different journeys they’ve had.
Is there a journey you would like to take in your future?
What kind of journeys did Jesus go on?
Reverend Richard has been talking a lot about the 40 year journey that Moses and the Israelites took through the desert. Imagine being a child when the journey started and spending your whole life travelling! What do you think that was like for them?
Video Story Time
The first story this week is called “The Race” by Caroline Repchuk. This is a fun retelling of the fable of the Tortoise & The Hare. Both embark on a journey around the world, one racing quickly, the other taking his time and enjoying the trip. Which way would you choose?
The second story is called “Someday” by Alison McGhee & Peter H. Reynolds. It’s a lovely story of a journey through life, seen through a mother’s eyes. It’s a good story for our high school grads and their parents!
Car Games
How many of you have gone on a trip, only to ask (or hear) the question, “Are we there yet?” Here are a few ideas to keep you and your children busy if you’re on a road trip this summer!
The Licence Plate Game
Look out the car window and see how many different licence plates you can spot? Where are they from? This year it might be hard to find ones from other countries or provinces but that just makes it more of a challenge to find one that’s different! Good luck!
Animal Search
If you’re travelling though the countryside, count how many different animals you can spot. You can give each animal a different number of points. For example, a cow gets 1 point because they are usually easy to spot and a moose gets 10 points because they’re hard to find! Can you find sheep, pigs, horses, goats, chickens…what else can you think of?
I Spy
You have to be quick with this one because if you’re moving, things could disappear quickly as you drive by. But you could play it at a rest stop, or even find things inside the car. One person picks an object or landmark along the road (mountain, big road sign in the distance, etc.) and the others take turns trying to guess what it is.
20 Questions
This one is similar to I Spy but it could be anything! One person thinks of a person, place or thing and everyone else gets to ask 20 questions to try and guess what it is. But remember, the questions can only be answered by saying “YES” or “NO”. For example…”Is it bigger than the car?” “Can I hold it in my hand?”.
The Memory Game
One person starts with the line…” I’m going on a picnic and I’m going to bring a blanket”. Then the next person says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m going to bring a blanket and a picnic basket”. Keep going with each person adding another item to the list. Test your memory and see how long your list can get! You can start games with different lines as well to give you different items to put on a list. I’m going to school and I’m going to bring… I’m going camping and I’m going to bring…. etc.
Sing Songs
Singing in the car was always a favourite pastime for my family. We would sing lots of rounds or even make up our own silly songs. Pick a few songs for you and your family to learn on your next trip! Here are a few to get you started:
Row, Row, Row, Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream. (Public Domain)
Fire’s Burning
Fire’s burning, fire’s burning.
Draw nearer, draw nearer.
In the gloaming, in the gloaming.
Come sing and be merry. (Public Domain)
White Coral Bells
White coral bells, upon a silver stalk, lilies of the Valley deck my garden walk.
Oh don’t you wish that you could hear them ring.
That can only happen when the fairies sing. (Public Domain)