About a hundred miles, and
two hours, later, they dropped us at the airport, with hugs and kisses and tears
and goodbyes.
Four-year-old Luke sat in
his car seat, big tears streaming, “But I wanna go with Makah and Papa.” His
little lip quivered. “I can get on the plane, too.”
He didn’t think of the
consequences of being away from his mom. The one he clings to when he’s scared
or tired or sad. He didn’t consider that he wouldn’t be able to simply go home on
a moment’s notice. He just wept. Which made Makah weep too.
In the meantime, some 1550
miles away, they headed north. It was around eighty or ninety miles one way, at
least three or four hours out of their day. They said they had to go up there
anyway. I know they were just saying that. But there they were, all smiles, waiting
when we got off the plane.
They drove us all the way
out to our camper. Even though they had a graduation to attend, they waited to
see if we’d be okay, if the camper survived the harsh winter, and even tried to
jump the old truck out of hibernation before they’d go.
Why’d they do it?
We had a couple minor
plumbing leaks which triggered multiple trips to town.
On one of the trips, for
yet another part, somewhere between flex hoses, shutoff valves and cash
registers, they showed up; seven of them in all.
They heard where we were
going, dropped what they were doing, changed their plans, went out of their
way, tracked us down and intercepted our journey. So, right there in the middle
of Menard’s home improvement store, we improved our home, by having an impromptu
family reunion.
The rest of the day and
into the evening we worked, and finally, sometime after nine—we were leak free.
The next day, as I was standing
in front of the grill flipping steaks, I thought of her. Minutes later, she drove
in. Uninvited, no plans ahead of time, she just showed up; because she knows, dad
always says, "Family don’t need no invitation."
She stayed for supper and
after three, or was it four? hugs goodbye,
she got in her car and made her way back home.
Why’d she do it?
Today, cooped up in this
camper, I traded my typical Florida attire of flip flops and shorts, for long
pants and sweatshirt. Wish we had a fireplace. The sky is spilling a cadence on
our roof while casting it’s dingy-silver reflection on the lake…and I’m reflecting
on the last few days.
Why’d they do it?
Why’d they drive for
hours, leave their homes, change their plans?
On second thought.
We left the space and sunshine
of our Florida home in a peaceful park with a sparkling pool, for this dreary, rain,
cramped camper and cold weather.
Why’d we do it?
And then I see the sun
break through, listen to the breeze through the trees, smile as the birds start
to sing. Through the window I watch as if the scene goes from black and white
to living color…and somehow, in the midst of it all, I see and hear and feel, The
Creator.
And just like that the
answer comes.
In the midst of the cold
and dreary, cramped and weary world, there still remains the undeniable proof
of the One who left the spacious splendor of His sparkling city, simply to make
a way for us, every.single.one.of.us. to be with Him.
I caught a glimpse of what really matters, a partial
fingerprint of our Father, a reflection of His heart's greatest desire for
us all to be one. One big, noisy, messy, happy, loving, family.
Jesus
prayer for us today:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for
those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as
You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me. And
the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We
are one: I in them, and You in Me; that
they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent
Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also
whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am” (John 17)
Jesus,
the Word, became flesh.
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light
of men. And the light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness could not extinguish it. (John 1)
Jesus left Home just to be with us:
Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of
God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a
man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross. Therefore God also
has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. (Phil. 2)
Jesus ran and won so we can be one:
Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. (Hebrews 12)
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