Kim Wilbanks

A Year of Travel

This year was a year of travel for my husband and me, but it wouldn’t have happened without one crucial item. All the planning, preparation, and packing would have been for naught had we not had this one important document. Thankfully, we did, so now we have a treasure of memories from our travels.

In April, we went on a European cruise with Jim’s sister and brother-in-law. We took another family trip with our kids and grandsons to Scotland in September. Our last trip of the year was to Germany with One More Child, an organization dedicated to helping children and families we support. That trip, the shortest of all three, focused on the Protestant Reformation. We were surprised to realize that we had visited ten different countries when we listed the countries we had visited this year. I think that is a record for one year.

For each trip, I researched our destination. I checked the weather and packed accordingly—rain boots and jackets, warm jackets, comfortable walking shoes, something nice for nicer restaurants, and some spring fashion for our cruise, since it was over the Easter holiday. We purchased plane tickets to get us to our destination. My husband notified the bank and telephone carrier that we would be traveling out of the country and planned for someone to collect our mail. We secured a dog sitter for our dog, Boone. We did all that we needed to do to prepare for these trips.

One small but important thing could have wiped out every plan we had made. If we had shown up at the airport without our passports, we would have missed our trip. Despite all the preparations, all the “right” things we had done, the flight attendant would have denied us entry on the plane. That one important document was essential for us to travel.

Life is a Journey

It made me think. Life is a journey. We are all heading somewhere. We will all spend eternity somewhere. Our passport for this journey is Jesus. I imagine most people anticipate going to heaven at the end of life’s journey here on earth. We try to do the right things to ensure that happens, but it is all for naught if we don’t have Jesus. 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘ I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)

Wisdom in Discernment

An interesting thing happened on our trip to Germany. On our last day before heading home, we visited the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. I have always wanted to see this castle, which inspired Walt Disney when he planned the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. It was a much-anticipated outing.

When we arrived, our tour guide passed out our tickets. He was short a few, so returned to the ticket booth to purchase more. He gave a ticket to two of the women on the tour, explaining it would work for them both. (Later, one lady told me she didn’t think this seemed right but went along with it because the information was from the tour guide.) The group met at the gate of the castle at the allotted time. Several of us went through. The two ladies with a single ticket could not pass. The guard was firm. Each person had to have their own ticket. We begged, we explained the situation; we told her we were part of a group, but it didn’t matter. 

Finally, one pastor gave up his ticket so both women could enter. A few minutes later, the guide arrived with another ticket, and everyone could tour the castle. All was well in the end.

Again, this made me think. We receive a constant stream of information every day. Sometimes people intentionally deceive us, or perhaps they were deceived themselves and spread their false message to those who listen. It emphasizes the importance of the ability to discern the truth. Despite what the tour guide told these women, the person in charge had the authority to decide who could enter. Just as there was only one way to get into the castle, there is only one way to enter the kingdom of God. We must discern the truth so that we don’t fall for half-truths or lies.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:19 (NIV)

What’s Next?

Our passports await our next trip (which won’t be soon) as we store them safely in the filing cabinet. More importantly, we have our passports for eternity. We know that without Jesus, all of our planning and preparation would be meaningless. 

How about you? Do you own a passport? Have you traveled to a country that required a passport? If so, what was your favorite or most recent destination? Most importantly, do you know Jesus, your passport for eternity? I would love to hear.