Journeys—past, present and future

   Traveling seemed to be a recurring theme during the holiday season. Just before Christmas, Al and I were invited to the home of our dear friends, Jay and Alvina Sue, for an annual reunion. Three closely-knit families, the Sues, Wrights and Lowerys, have been getting together for several years now to catch up on news, to see how the kids have grown and lately to meet grandchildren.

   The Sues had quite a houseful of guests this year, with their oldest son and his family traveling all the way from Singapore to be together for Christmas. Imagine making that long seventeen hour flight (landing in San Francisco) with four children aged seven and under! The Wright’s daughter also joined us; but she didn’t have so far to go, from southern California to Porterville! We had a wonderful reunion that evening.

   A big journey also lies ahead for us at the end of January that will involve packing up all of our belongings and moving to Michigan with our fur sons Teddy and TJ in tow. Our heads have been spinning since selling the house about three weeks ago. It will not be an easy feat whether flying or driving.

   However, none of these trips were or will be as difficult as the trip Joseph made with Mary to Bethlehem! She must have protested at first. I can just hear her saying, “Joseph, why now? The baby is due soon… and me riding on a donkey for all those days?” They faced many unknowns and dangers as they made the four or five day trek from Nazareth. At the end of their journey they were homeless, with a baby on the way. Yet they were not abandoned by God.

   Then there was the lengthy search made by the wise men who started from a Mid-Eastern country far from Israel and who traveled by camel across the desert to find the newborn King of the Jews. Miraculously guided by a star, they first went to Jerusalem and then after meeting with King Herod traveled down to Bethlehem, where the star once again pointed the way to Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

   Long journeys…past, present and future—tiring, often exhausting, ordeals fraught with unknowns, anxieties and sometimes danger too. Yet behind them all, the Lord was directing and planning the course that they would take. He also is in control of the trip to Michigan which lies ahead. It’s comforting to know that He is with us!

   Some of you are facing hard journeys as well. May you have peace and travel mercies, believing that: “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Ps 121:7-8 NIV

                             “Travel Mercies” by Ann Marie Bezayiff

   “Thank you Lord for mercies. When I drive towards my destination, though traffic congestion from stalled vehicles, construction delays and accidents; you slow me down, change my course and protect me from obstacles of harm.

   Thank you for your mercies when dark storm clouds threaten overhead and pound our windshield with vengeance. When we dare not stop, you send a rainbow on the edge of a cloud in the distance. A promise. The darkness passes over.

   Thank you for mercies for our bodies that are able to endure the miles of travel and stretch and move without pain. Thank you for that extra cup of coffee, the ice cream dipped cone and the rest stops along the way.

   With your protection and guidance, we arrive home safely. 

   Thank you Lord, for your travel mercies. Amen.”