We [all] will be with the Lord forever. –I Thessalonians 4:17

Last summer, my wife Alana and I had the privilege of hosting Phil and Cyrena. Phil and Cyrena are members of the church where I was pastor for sixteen years. Considerably younger than us, they are serious bikers (bicycles). They have ridden bikes across the state of Iowa more than forty times. Twenty years ago they were in a group that rode from the West Coast to Washington, DC. For the twentieth anniversary of this trip they were riding from Gettysburg, Pa. to Washington. They have climbed Mt. Everest and Mt. Kilimanjaro. We hadn’t seen them since we left Iowa more than eleven years before. We have done none of those things and people who know us and them would say we have little in common.

Yet we had a great time visiting with them Friday night and Saturday morning before they went on to Gettysburg. We shared stories, caught up on mutual friends. We were all amazed at how Alana has kept up with so many, reading the local paper and gleaning information from church newsletters and occasional contacts.

The one common ground which binds us together is Jesus. They and others who know Him are family, no matter how different we might be. And it occurred to me; this is a foretaste of what heaven will be like. It will be a reunion that will bring the greatest of joy. The difference is it won’t be cut short.

Hope to see you then.

Filed under: The Journey |