Summer Travels

Many folks will be travelling hither and yon in the weeks ahead. One tank trips, day excursions, cross country travel... regardless of the length we usually have a destination in mind and some expectation of the route we will take. Truth be told, we have no CERTAINTY about what will occur. Sure, we have reason to believe that our journey will be safe...and now with gps we have tools that help us determine our course with high accuracy. But there are always unforeseeable possibilities ... detours, hazards and random accidents... and the surprises are sometimes sheer delight... unexpected breakthroughs of weather ...cloud patterns...rainbows....chance encounters of somebody from your town who stops at the same rest stop hundreds of miles from home.

Most travellers are able to accept the small risk that their plans are always subject to sudden change...otherwise we would never set out from our home...ever.

Today's reading reminds me of the ultimate comfort ... the delicious promise of eternity.

There is really only one certainty about life's destination....

John 14:1-7 (NRSV)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. 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, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

As you travel these days, may the Lord bless you with wonder-filled sights, happy conversations, and protection from all peril. Amen.