You've been driving around for hours, looking for a certain street in an unfamiliar part of town. Your car is nearly out of gas, and you are tired, hungry,  discouraged and impatient because you thought surely by now you would have arrived at your 'destination'.

Finally you pull onto a street that looks somewhat familiar. You say to yourslelf 'this must be it'! There are trees, now grown up, that you recognize from childhood. The old treehouse you used to play in is still partially in tack. Lingering in the air are familiar scents and sounds. Your heart beats faster.

You drive to the end of the road. You dont have the exact address of where you are going, but you figure, you will recognize it when you get there.

Then, abrupty, you see the sign;' dead end.' You reach the end of the pavement. None of the houses look familiar. Your heart sinks with despair and frustration. You say to yourself " How could I have gone this far, come so close, yet without success?"

At the end of this dead end is a quaint little cottage, with a well manicured yard, complete with an array of colorful, fragrant flower beds and groves of nut and fruit trees. Hmmm, you debate on going to the front door and knocking. Maybe there is someone there who will be able to help, to point you in the right direction. 'Well,' you say to yourself, 'what do I have to lose?

As you walk up the cobblestone walkway, thru the lush gardens, full of rock gardens and crystal fountains; your heart beats faster. Something is special about this place!

You knock. One time, then another. Suddenly the door opens.

"Come in. We've been anxiously awaiting your return' a voice calls from inside. The banquet is ready. "

You are baffled. Where is the person speaking? Where is the banquet? You suddenly realized how hungry, how starved you, how thirsty you really are.

A servant rushes forward, takes your coat from you, clothes you in royal robes, and places a crown on your head, and leads you into the spacious banquet hall. Your mouth falls open. Over the table is a large banner that says LOVE. And oh, the table, it is set with every delicacy known to man. The servant pulls out a chair and you sit down at the table.

Then you see Him, in all His beauty. He removes your sandals, and washes your tired, dusty, blistered covered feet, sore from painful dead-end journeys. Ohhhhh, the crystal clear water feels so good. And then the servant wipes them dry with His soft fluffy towel.  

Then, He feeds you out of His hand, bite by bite, drink by drink, heavenly drink, heavenly morsels.
Then, gazing intently into your eyes, He says

"WELCOME HOME, CHILD!"

Copyright 2007 Lillis Boyer