Traveling Through

 




I’m not a good traveler—just ask my husband. He has longed to take a cross-country tour with me. Hasn’t happened yet in 40 years.

But there was one time that I packed a brand new suitcase and was willing to travel across the world to get to the place I had been reading about most of my life—the Holy Land. Once there, I walked miles and miles with wide-eyed wonder, sealing the images inside my mind.




The bustling markets of the Old City of Jerusalem were memorable, and so were the ancient ruins where so much Biblical history took place. But I realized that I’d found what I came to see, when I was outside of Bethlehem. I tuned-out the crowd noise, and I imagined it as it might have been that special night.


Perhaps it was like this year, with a planetary line up making the night sky shine with a remarkable celestial brightness. But on that one night, the heavens opened up as a chorus of angels announced the arrival of our Savior. 


I would have been like those shepherds, completely awestruck. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.” (Luke 2:10)


Our tour guide beckoned us, and I had to move on. But I looked back one last time imagining that scene. Even though the shepherds weren’t rich, or educated, or from the ruling class, they had been chosen to find out the news first...and in their excitement they said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)




Like those shepherds, I’m not rich, highly educated, or in the ruling class. But the shepherds did choose to go find the Savior and so have I.


I’m thankful for the journey we share here, the moments we laugh, the tears that are shed, and the prayers that are said. During WWII, Corrie Ten Boom was sent to a Nazi concentration camp as punishment for helping Jews escape. But she survived and became an inspiration for traveling through life with hope, peace, and love. She knew the best was still ahead.


We've had a hard year—Corrie would remind us of this:


“With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…” -Corrie ten Boom


Yes, the very best is yet to be. Merry Christmas!


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