Driving to the Chicago Midway airport, I reflected on some of the sweet memories of our trip. Here are a few that you can read about in my previous posts.
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- We had opportunity to share with Steve and Ana of the great Hope we have for our future.
- Together with Gene’s sister Debbie, we found greater understanding of God’s grace in the building renovation project of our lives.
- We enjoyed God’s blessings of prosperity with the Anderson family.
- In our sweet get-together with dear friends Steve and Meg, we were strengthened in the joy of the Lord.
- We were warmed by Bruce and Carla’s welcoming ways in Christ.
- Paul and Ceney’s family gave us a heart-warming view of passing the love down, generation to generation.
- We celebrated God’s loving kindness in our reunion together with Rich, Vera, and Michael.
- And finally, we were exceedingly blessed to see Elijah and Aimee growing in their love for each other to become heirs together of the grace of life.
Now we were heading home. Home. Sounds comforting, familiar, with a sense of belonging, a sanctuary built together with family and loved ones. Some of my favorite movies illustrate a yearning for home: Scarlett O’Hara returning to the family’s beloved home, Tara, in Gone with the Wind; Dorothy and Toto discovering “There’s no place like home,” in The Wizard of Oz; Frodo Baggins long journey to Mount Doom and back, finally reaching his home in the Shire in Lord of the Rings.
God’s Word tells us enormously important stories of returning home: Naomi returning to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth (Ruth 1:6-22); Jacob moving back to Canaan from Haran (Genesis 31:1—33:20); the man with the unclean spirit dwelling among the tombs going home to tell his friends about God’s great compassion and deliverance (Mark 5:1-20); and my favorite, the prodigal son returning home to his forgiving father (Luke 15:11-32).
What is one thing these all have in common? Every one returned home a changed person. And the same is true for the three of us. We shared so much of life with so many that we were looking forward to a restful return home with all our sweet memories. What a blessed life we lead!
Isaiah 32:17,18:
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
However, we still had a major hurdle to cross before we got there—Cindy still didn’t have her driver’s license, which she needed for identification to get through security at the airport! In planning our final leg of the journey, we allowed time for the rush hour traffic we would probably hit, figured in the time change between Grand Rapids and Chicago Midway, and decided to avoid toll roads and some road closures (including a major bridge). Plus, we had to add more time to turn in our rental car, and then added a couple of hours so Cindy could hopefully get through the added security.
As I drove us there, my mind would tend to jump back and forth, up and down, between the “What if’s?” like “What if we hit heavy rush hour traffic?” (A particular sore spot for those of us from Los Angeles.) Or “What if they don’t let her through security and we have to leave her behind?” But each time, I would catch myself, pray a little Philippians 4:19 prayer, and cast my cares to my heavenly Father.
And what happened? We not only had a smooth ride all the way to the airport (NO heavy traffic, NO closed bridge, NO tolls), but we also managed to turn in the car and walk to our terminal in about ten minutes. Cindy immediately went to the ticketing agent for instructions (no line), held on to all her luggage because it had to go through added scrutiny, and the three of us proceeded to security.
Now here’s the kicker: Cindy was directed to the security line where all luggage is inspected, including a pat-down, and search—but there was no line. At the same time, Gene and I stood at the back of a long line of people with so many twists and turns you’d have thought we were in the two-hour waiting line for the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. We didn’t know when we’d see Cindy again on the other side.
But then a nearby security officer noticed that we were concerned about meeting up with the sister. In an amazing display of God’s grace and goodness, she offered to let us follow Cindy right into the higher security check area.
After getting the okay from the big boss, the three of us cruised on through and headed to the gate in only a few minutes. Rejoicing in our victory, we settled in for a peaceful trip the rest of the way home.
What an adventure we had during those two weeks across the Midwest! But no return flight home can compare to the one we are all anticipating, a flight to our forever home where we will be together with the Lord.
I Thessalonians 4:16,17:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
See you here, there, or in the air!
