Snowplay at Weed

"Daddy, can we play in the snow a little longer?"

It was a cold December afternoon during a family road trip to Portland, Oregon.  My children were only five and seven years of age, and growing up in the Los Angeles area, the only snow that they had played in so far was the machine-made stuff at local winter carnivals.  There was only a couple of inches of packed snow on the ground, but this time the stuff was real, and the kids were busy pelting me with snowballs, building snowmen and lying on the ground making snow angels.  I reluctantly agreed that we'd stay a little longer.

My wife stood next to me, and seeing the snow-capped mountains, exclaimed how beautiful the scene was, and dashed off with the camera to take a better shot.  I admit that I was also drawn in by the splendor of the surroundings, and was thankful for incidentally finding this patch of snow-covered landscape.

Eventually it was time to leave, but the kids were having too much fun to get in the car.  I had to remind them that we still had a long way to drive that day, and that we couldn't spend the entire afternoon at a the freeway rest area.

Yes, a rest area.  Somehow, the roadside potties by Interstate 5 near the California/Oregon border became a major winter vacation destination.  We pulled the car into the rest area at Weed, California, for a quick potty break.  It became a very long potty break, and we made sure that everyone had a chance to use the toilet a second time before we left for good.

Christians often describe our earthly existence as a journey, as we are reminded that there is a destination that is far more appealing than where we are right now:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.  If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.  (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Jesus said to his disciples during his last supper with them:

"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."  (John 14:1-3)

None of us will live forever in this life.  Some experience journeys of suffering and torment, and wish that their days are shortened.  Others' lives are full of earthly pleasures and success that they loathe the notion of ever departing from them.  Nevertheless, the journey will continue, and for those who call Jesus as Lord and Savior, our destination is far greater than Portland in December.