Vacation Planning

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

I’m dreaming of a summer vacation. Just like the ones I used to know. Where the palm trees glisten and old folks listen for the sound of birds calling high and low. I’m dreaming of a summer vacation with every e-mail that I write. May my vacation be merry and bright. And may all my travels be delight. Ah, that time of year, when my to do overflows with work and all I can think about is escaping from my desk. All the responsibilities I shirked while in the midst of Heritage Days are coming back to get me. I flit from one meeting to another. The steeple of the 1887 church is leaning due to termite damage. A small historical society needs help with planning exhibits. Gecko Fest is almost over, and its time to auction the six foot geckos. I’ve got to update websites, review personnel policies, lobby for funds, balance the budget, oversee the restoration of a building, encourage volunteers, monitor performance reviews… I am tired all ready. Husband has been too busy at his job to even think about vacation, but I need to plan a trip. I need to have something to look forward to. So, I finally got him to sit down with me and look at a few options. AAA has a place on their website where you put in your favorite things to do and it gives you a list of places you can visit and do those things. I keyed in museums, kayaking, horseback riding, romance, gardens for me and extreme sports, racing, motorcycles, scenic drives and bed and breakfasts for husband. It said we needed to take separate vacations. No, just kidding. It said we should go to Costa Rica or Ireland. Hooray! I have always wanted to go to both of those places. I can see us on a little motorcycle cruising along scenic roadways that take us past lush hills (Ireland), rainforests (Costa Rica) to horseback riding, kayaking, gardens and museums all the while staying in lovely bed and breakfasts each night. Ah, now that sounds like a vacation. Husband said no to both places. He doesn’t want to go out of the country. He doesn’t want to go to the beach (too hot and sandy). He doesn’t want to go to the mountains (too far away). He doesn’t want to go to the Keys (too crowded). He doesn’t want to go on a cruise (too boring). So, I asked, “Where do you want to go?” He wants to go to Alaska, but we lack the time to stay long enough to make that long distance flight worthwhile. So, I don’t know where we will be going, but we need to choose somewhere and sometime soon. My sanity depends upon it. There’s something else to anticipate that keeps me focused as well. Heaven. Better than any vacation. No tears, no worries, no pain. Just worshipping and praising God. And I bet it will be even prettier than Ireland.