There is a story in the Gospel of John in which Jesus tells the disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them. Jesus goes on to say, "And you know the way to the place where I am going."
To which Thomas says, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Jesus says, the a very misused line these days, "I am the way."
Many people understand this text to be one that tells us the way to heaven is only through Jesus. That is to say if you want to see heaven, follow Jesus.
When we think like this, we split our attention. We have one eye on heaven and the other eye on Jesus. Which sounds like a good thing, but this is really not the point of what Jesus is talking about. Jesus wants his disciples to not focus on the destination, because they know where Jesus is going, rather Jesus wants the disciples to focus on the way.
Which reminds me of a Zen teaching, which I think speaks just as much Truth as Jesus is talking about in John.
A young, but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years . .”
The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?”
Replied the Master, “Well, twenty years.”
“But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student.
“Thirty years,” replied the Master.
“But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?”
Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”
Christians can learn a great deal from this. What would it look like if we took Jesus' words seriously. We know where he is going, so stop worrying or thinking or trying to see it.
Rather focus on the path, the Way, Jesus and trust that it takes you where Jesus is.