Tag: travel

That Other Christmas Trip

As I’m putting away the Christmas decorations, I’m thinking about the way the first Christmas ended. Not with storing the stockings and jingle bells for next year, but with a trip to the temple in Jerusalem.

I hadn’t really thought about the fact that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus took a trip to Jerusalem about seven days after his birth, but it’s recorded in Luke 2:22, 24:

“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’”

We hear about Mary and Joseph’s trek to Bethlehem and lament with Mary about walking or riding on a donkey over hill and dale while carrying a full-term baby. But their next trip could not have been much easier. In fact, I would prefer to travel while pregnant over traveling with a newborn, even the short distance from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.

Traveling while pregnant is uncomfortable, but traveling with a newborn is a whole different ballgame. You don’t just grab your purse, phone, and keys and jump in the car. You pack a diaper bag, throw in the stroller and port-a-crib, make sure the car seat is appropriately secured, and don’t forget the extra clothes and clean-up supplies for when the baby spits up all over you. Ugh.

Okay, maybe Mary and Joseph didn’t pack a lot of extras, but they did make a trip to Jerusalem with a newborn. I think she took that trip with Jesus clutched to her chest, if she was as nervous as I was bringing my first baby home from the hospital. How many times did she tell Joseph to be careful or to slow down guiding the donkey?

 As I took a closer look at that trip, the reason for it struck me: it was for their purification. The birth of Jesus made Mary unclean. His conception was miraculous, but his birth was typical, albeit in a stable and announced by angels. A typical birth included bleeding. Bleeding required purification. The Law of Moses in Leviticus 12 says that “if a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean for seven days.” Verse 4 is what really made me think. “Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.”

I pictured Mary, unable to enter the sanctuary or touch anything holy, holding Jesus—the holiest of holies. How ironic! She was there to offer sacrifices (two turtledoves) for her purification. For the following thirty-three days, Mary wasn’t to touch anything holy. During that time, she would have held baby Jesus, nursed him, changed him, bathed him, burped him, patted him, and rocked him to sleep (or bounced him on her knees to sleep, if he was anything like my babies). She was a mom with an extraordinary yet typical baby who needed her touch in many ways.

She lovingly handled that holy baby, as the days of her purifying were completed and beyond. How many times did she pick him up to comfort him or cuddle him? She was kept away from the sanctuary, but not from the one who made it holy.

One day, her baby would shed his own blood, the holiness of which would fully cleanse her from her sin. There would be no more need for sacrifices of turtledoves or days of purification or trips to faraway places dragging along all the newborn gear. His blood would take away the sin of the world. They named him Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins.

Missed It!

Did you see it, or did you miss it? I’m talking about the aurora borealis—the Northern Lights. I missed it, but I tried really hard to see it.

photo courtesy of cousin Wendy Radcliff

At 7:40pm on Thursday night, a text from a friend who lives maybe two miles from our house announced the Northern Lights show had begun. He included a pretty pink picture to prove it. We scurried outside and searched the sky, but there were too many tall trees. So, we hopped into the car and headed off hoping to hunt them down.

Our first stop was the turnpike bridge less than a mile from our house. It provided a perfect position to peruse the northern horizon but no lights. We moved on, deciding to drive up to Ridge Road. It is named that because, in case you hadn’t guessed, it rolls along a ridge. We assumed our elevated search would result in seeing stupendous streaks of light. But the only lights were illuminating little athletes legging it out in local parks. We tried the airport. No aurora. We kept on searching as we sped along the ridge but saw none of the pinks, purples, and greens that were lighting up Facebook.

It seemed that everyone was seeing the Northern Lights but us. Since we had gone this far, we kept on going to the lake that many said was the most auspicious area to ascertain the aurora. There were lots of cars coming and going and a large party parked on an overpass, but all we saw was darkness, so we pressed on. At 9:15pm we drove down our dark driveway, disappointed we missed the dazzling display.

Looking at others’ pictures and comments that the lights were still visible, I sprinted outside, hoping to see a single shimmer or shaft. But there was only darkness and crickets, one of which took advantage of the open door and would probably chirp all night. But that’s okay. I could run outside every hour or so to check for the fleeting fluorescence.

A few friends said to focus my phone’s camera and take photos even if it feels futile. The camera was sure to find fugacious flashes. It didn’t. I wondered why. Photos from friends were phenomenal. I was in the same spots they had stopped. How had the luminaries eluded me?

I think it was a combination of things. I was dressed dandy for our spontaneous excursion but not to remain outside for a prolonged period. We didn’t stop and wait for the lights to appear. We just kept meandering and monitoring. We thought we were honed in on the northern horizon, but maybe we weren’t even headed in the right direction. Whatever the reason, the night wore on and all we could do was delight in others’ descriptions of their dynamic discoveries (secretly wondering if it was all an elaborate ruse).

There is another astronomical event that we are sure will not allude us—Jesus coming back in the clouds. Like my search for the Northern Lights, some are looking in the wrong direction (Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6) Some aren’t prepared, and others think it’s just a conspiracy theory (Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44)

Though we don’t know the specific day and time, it could be soon, so I’ll keep watching and waiting. This is one cataclysmic atmospheric luminescent event I’m sure I won’t miss. You won’t need your camera to capture the Light of the World. He will be evident to all. (Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the cloud of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30)

If you’re not sure you’re prepared for his appearing, ask me about it. And if you have great pictures of the aurora borealis, share them with me. I’d love to see their splendiferousness.

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him (Revelation 1:7a NIV).

Going Home

I took one last walk around the neighborhood with my granddaughters before heading to the San Diego airport. It was time to go home after a week of fun in the sun.

My arrival in San Diego was a surprise to my granddaughters on their last day of school. The joy on their faces could have been because school was out for the summer, but I’ll go on thinking it was my arrival. We had a week full of fun: games, the county fair, a softball tournament, lunch in Old Town, dinner at the beach, playground time, trampoline time, pool time, ice cream, and playing inside, outside, and bayside. But now it’s time to fly back to Philadelphia, via San Antonio and Nashville (and one more vacation treat – Nashville hot chicken for dinner).

Every day, the girls would ask, “How many more days will you be here?” We counted down to this morning, when it was time to go to the airport.

About halfway through my week, I got a text that a friend of mine will also be going home soon. Cancer has brought her on this journey. Like my trip, it was unplanned until very recently. Just a few weeks ago, she wasn’t thinking about going home, but the message I got was that she will be going within a few days.

I’ve been thinking about her since the text arrived a few days ago, wondering how close she is to her final destination. I’m writing this blog on a plane somewhere between San Antonio and Nashville. I have about an hour and a half until my big blue and red bird lands in Nashville, then an hour’s wait to board another plane, and another two hours until I reach my final destination. And, of course, there’s about an hour’s drive home. Her journey will be different—much smoother and faster with fewer lines.

I wish we could know before we make it what our final homegoing will be like. I’ve been with people as they have died. Most were no longer communicating as their breathing slowed and finally stopped. There was no struggle, no indication that anything was happening. But I have also known a few who were conscious and talked about seeing something bright and beautiful. My guess is angels were there to escort them to heaven. I wonder if they are our guardian angels who have been with us all along or if there are special-assignment escort angels. Whichever it may be, one thing I know for sure is that Jesus is waiting to greet us at our final, heavenly destination.

After I struggle to get my larger-than-needed suitcase off the baggage claim conveyer in Philly, I’ll maneuver it out the doors, across the street, and up onto the platform where my husband will meet me. I am looking forward to his embrace. That anticipation helps me push against the tide in a sea of travel issues.

And tomorrow morning, when I go upstairs, I’ll be greeted by three little voices calling, “Mom-mom!” I am confident after a week away, their greeting will be even more enthusiastic than usual, reflecting the joy they will have at my return.

Jesus will greet us that way too at our final destination. He’s been getting ready for it and anticipating it. My friend’s home going is not a surprise to him. And when she arrives, he will be there greeting her with great joy, a warm embrace, and a “welcome home.”

“for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 ESV