It’s a Small World
Well, my world is pretty small anyway.
My dad fought in the Pacific theater in WWII. He was in the Philippines on the island of Leyte, and also on Okinawa. He and Mom have been in many places across the USA as well. My older brother was in the Air Force for 20 years, starting in the mid-60s, and has been in many parts of the world. My next younger brother was also in the Air Force for 20 years, with similar experiences as far as seeing the world. My second youngest brother has been in quite a few places around this country, and currently lives in Georgia. His son has been to Russia, and is currently touring Europe with his German wife. My youngest brother just returned from a trip to Brazil.
My world has been much smaller. I’ve seen much of Minnesota and Iowa. I’ve seen parts of western Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota, and I’ve been just over the border into Nebraska and North Dakota, and I’ve been as far north as the northeastern tip of Minnesota at Grand Portage.
And that’s it.
This past weekend we took a little trip. We drove over to Watertown, South Dakota for my wife’s family reunion. We left home at 6:00am; arrived in Watertown at 9:30am; spent four and a half hours reminiscing with her cousins, aunts, and uncles; left Watertown at 2:00pm; and arrived home at 5:30pm. Total mileage: 382 miles round-trip. I believe that was the farthest I’ve ever driven in one day.
Sometimes I think I’d like to see other places. It would be neat to visit my brothers in Georgia and Texas, and my brother-in-law in Arizona. (My wife says not to take her to Arizona, because she won’t come back!) I’d like to see where my ancestors came from: Norway, and Switzerland, England, Ireland, and the Isle of Barra off the coast of Scotland. And I’d like to see lots of places around the world: Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South America, parts of Africa. I’d like to see where my dad fought in WWII, at Leyte and Okinawa. I’d like to see Alaska and Hawaii.
Will it ever happen? I don’t know. At this rate I doubt it.
But I’m also pretty well satisfied staying right here in southern Minnesota. It’s a small world, but it’s a pretty good little world, too.
And maybe some day when I get to heaven, the Lord will give me a tour of the whole world before He burns it up and moves us all into His new world.
And if He doesn’t, well, I suppose it really won’t matter that much, will it?
You don’t want to visit Florida?
Well sure, Stan! I’ve got quite a few cyber-friends there, including you! I’d love to see Florida! (But I had to draw the line somewhere, otherwise the post would get too big!)
ElShaddai:
1 Peter 3:7 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
1 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
Revelation 21:1-2 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.” (all quotes NASB)
Does it mean what it says? That’s the way I take it.
Gary, I understand. If you do visit Florida you may want to do it at a time other than Summer as the humidity is brutal.
Stan, you know, as a Minnesota Twins fan, I’d like to come down in March for the spring training season. Now that I would enjoy!