By the Way...

I once heard a comedian comment that he loved people with a sense of humor.  He told of a time he overheard a passenger aboard an airplane ask the stewardess how much longer until the plane landed in Miami.

"Gosh.  I don't know," she answered.  "We've never actually made it that far."

I hope she was joking.  And not just because planes are supposed to land in airports.  We all know they usually do.

But if I ever DO wind up on a plane destined to go down in a ball of flames, I'd like to think there's a chance that at least one person on the plane would meet the occasion with good humor.  After all, is there any evidence that bracing yourself against the seat in front of you and hyperventilating actually makes any sort of difference in this situation?

Nope.  Didn't think so. 

May as well enjoy what's left of the ride.


Look at it this way:  at least there's a chance that you and your baggage will land at pretty close to the same time.


All kidding aside, the real problem with airline travel is airports, anyway.  And it's not just that they're anonymous, soulless buildings with over-priced restaurants.  It's the whole idea of a whole mode of travel that's destination-driven.  Air travel is a beginning and ending with a vast empty space in between.  No number of in-flight movies or bags of peanuts can make up for the fact that you're hurtling through space in a sensory deprivation chamber just waiting to be someplace else.


Get on a bike, or take a walk or a ride in the car, and you're on a journey.  It's not just about a destination, it's about all the little places you go through along the way.


Ours is a goal-oriented, product-driven, destination-loving culture.  And all that type A angst has found its way into our spirituality.  American Protestantism has become all about achieving salvation (through faith, of course... not works) and arriving safely at our eternal destination.


Jesus spoke seldom to people about going to Heaven.  I don't think the destination is what drove him.  After all, he'd already been there.


On one occasion, though, he did talk about going back.  He told his disciples "Where I go, there you shall be also..."


They must have exchanged meaningful glance before Thomas piped up with the obvious question.

"Uh.  Where exactly is it we're going again?  I need to put it in my GPS."


At least I think he said something like that.  I didn't actually take the time to look up the Bible verses, but I remember it being something like that.


Jesus passes up a perfect opportunity, here, to talk about the glories of the final destination and spell out the details of exactly how to get there.  Instead he says (again, I'm working from memory here):


"Way?  You want to know the way?  You want a road map?  What fun is that?  No, no, no."


Then he grinned a lopsided grin and said  "Me.  I'm the way.  I'm all you need to know."


And then he prayed a prayer and started walking.


If there's a one way, non-stop flight to Heaven, please feel free to stand in line and buy your ticket. 

For my part. I'd rather find a few good-natured traveling companions and go on foot.  Who knows what we'll see and discover along the Way.