WHEN THE TRAIN LEAVES THE STATION

“When the train leaves the station” is a phrase coined by this author. When traveling by train from one location to another, the following are true: 1) there is a time when the train has not yet departed the station; 2) there is time when the train has departed the station but not yet arrived at its destination; and 3) there is a time when the train arrives at its destination.

In this analogy, it is assumed that procedures and rules have already been established in the home for a child to follow. Even after the procedures and rules have been established and explained to the child, the train of this child’s life is determined as having not yet departed the station. It is only when the child first begins to freely function and conform to the procedures and rules that his “train has departed the station.” However, just because the train has departed, does not imply that it has arrived at its destination. Only full conformity to established procedures and rules determines the moment of destination arrival.

There is a problem in the home when parents spend too much time focused on how far the train has yet to go or how slowly the train is moving. Time should be spent focused on the fact that the train has departed the station. In fact, parents should be inspired that the train has departed. They should continue to patiently teach, train, and discipline to increase the child’s capacity for momentum toward destination arrival.

Repeating, parents should be looking for a child’s forward momentum toward the destination without focusing on how far there is yet to travel. Awareness of how far the train has yet to go is not wrong, but to become distraught over the negative without rejoicing over the positive is a recipe for disaster, namely, the introduction of legalism that punishes in order to speed up the train.

The real question in any child’s life is whether or not the train has departed the station with momentum in a direction toward its destination. The speed of the train and distance yet to travel are minor issues in the larger picture of the angelic conflict.