(Originally written October, 2014 when I flew in to surprise my mom for her birthday!)

I write this the evening prior to catching a flight in morning to head back home to Denver.  The surprise that was so anticipated turned into a wonderful visit with family, which included Concord Mills, Red Lobster, catching up with an area pastor, and the World Series.

But this trip is bookended:  a surprise on the front, goodbyes in the back.

And I detest them.

Sure, I’m grateful for the memories, grateful for the time, and grateful to get back to my crew on the Centennial front.

But those goodbyes…

One day, I’ll say, “Goodbye” to goodbyes.

Then I saw a new heaven  and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and  the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

Sin is covered, bringing fellowship with God.

Death is no more, bringing no more separation from each other.

The sea is no more, bring no more enemies that separate us from peace.

The Temple will be no more, for the Lord and the Lamb are our Temple (Rev. 21:22).

We say goodbye to those goodbyes. We will have one constant “Hello” to all that God has provided for us in Christ by the Spirit.

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!