Life Keeps Moving On

By Trish Johnston

“Here’s the truth: Life sucks sometimes.
When it hurts so bad that you can’t go on,
Life keeps moving on.
When you feel that you've been done wrong, 
When you're sure your world is coming down around you, 
Life keeps moving on”

As Servant Year round 1 comes to a close for me, I can’t help but think of this song by one of my favorite artists, Ben Rector. This year hasn’t always been easy, and the words of this song were a comfort during those tough times. The idea that ‘life keeps moving on’ reminded me that time was out my control, that no matter what I was going through, or how long the weeks seemed, time was still passing. Even if it didn’t look like things were changing, they were. And life did move on, I made it through those challenging times.

“When it's good 
When you're flying higher 
When your feet float up above the ground around you 
Life keeps moving on
When you're glad, 
When you're fat and happy, 
When you don't need for anything, 
Life keeps moving on”

As I head into this next chapter of my time with Servant Year, these words call me to remember that the good times, too, are only temporary. I am prepared to be grateful for each and every moment of this coming year; to relish in all that is going on around me and within me. I want to remember that though a year seems like a long time at the start, it goes by quickly, and it is time that I’ll never get back. I want to take hold of my next year, and make it all that it can be.   

“We're better off the sooner that we find 
That life is mostly what we choose to see”

And lastly, these words encompass the most important thing I’ve learned this year: I can’t control what's happening around me, but I sure can control how I look at it. Walking away from Servant Year #1, I’m going to be very intentional about which things that I’ve experienced this year are coming with me into the next. The moments when I was sure my world was coming down around me, those are getting left behind. But the moments when I was flying high, those are coming with me. And I’m certain there will be more of each in the next 12 months. But after year #1, I’m prepared, I’m grounded, and I’m determined to never let life move past me.

“At this pace 
We're gonna get somewhere 
If it's good or bad, if it's slow or fast 
Life keeps moving on”

You can listen to the whole song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1NKlW0t-wY

(Its highly recommended) 


Trish Serves as Director of Communications at Seamen's Church Institute (SCI).