November 6, 2010

Thoughts and Fears of Travels


I always get butterflies in my stomach whenever a thought of travel comes to mind. It's a mix feeling of excitement and also of the fear of flying and passing through immigrations. The excitement part is normal and I like it but I need to work on the second one.

I'm closest to heaven when I'm on board on a plane. Not just literally! I would be in deep prayer each time I do. And it helps to be on the right perspective, that my life is in God's hand and not in the pilot's.

With the immigration thing, maybe because my first few trips were quite stressful so the feeling keeps coming back whenever I'm in an airport. Plus the fact that I rush most of the time to catch the next flight adds to this unwanted inner state.

The first country I visited was unfriendly. "How much money do you have?" The immigration officer asked as he looked to me from head to foot. I have never been denied entry but I do get pressured whenever I talk about visa and passports. Was it because I lost my first passport on my first trip? I now have my 5th passport and that means I have been flying for years. I live in 4 different countries and that means I already have processed many visa applications. Never denied once but still this unwanted feeling keeps coming. Maybe it's best to stay at home.

I visited my home country recently. It is when the photo above was taken while on board on a plane. Thoughts came flooding as I faced my inner battle. I have already been granted with a residence visa for eternity. My passport is sealed, guaranteed, authenticated (Ephesians 4:30). No longer will I deal with unfriendly immigration officers. Jesus has promised, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:4). Heaven is my home.




12 comments:

Joanne Olivieri said...

You make a wonderful point here in that we all have that passport to our eternal home. It's the journey there that may be sometimes stressful and difficult.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Wonderful. And True. What joy to have the assurance of the visa on that final trip. Wait! It's not a visa, it's a passport. You don't need a visa when you are entering your home country. Finally home!

Ate Theresa

Kayce said...

Such true and perfect words!

Simple Home said...

I loved this post Ruth. It says so much. I'm so thankful for that eternal residence passage too :-)
Blessings,
Marcia

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

Ruth that is so true - this world is not our home.

Katie said...

Thank you for the new perspective! I've never heard this verse before, but it's a very cool way of looking at everything.

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

Beautiful. and I pray that you will always hold on to this when you travel....I do beleive that we are exactly where God wants us to be every second of our lives!

Liz said...

love this truth. Such a needed reminder.

Karen said...

This is so good!!!! I've just come to grips with being away from family & dear friends, that HE is my HOME! Thank you for sharing these thoughts and this wonderful picture. Don't you just love it when the Lord gives you thoughts, words, and pictures. Joining you at Katie's today.

Ginger said...

I love your perspective on this verse! I am not a world traveler, but I know that I will one day know the feeling of being "finally home". Beautiful.

Verna Luga said...

Hi Ruth, salamat sa Laag, Emars was formerly Kanaway, they renovated the place, reclaimed a sizable land towards the sea... its still along times beach....

see you next year..hehehe...

Jenny said...

I like the way you made it all tie together.

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