One of my best friends and her husband took their son to
Disney World this week. On the way, they
stopped for a break at South of the Border in South Carolina. My group of college friends has some kind of
special affinity for South of the Border.
I think it might have something to do with some stops there while
traveling with youth group in high school, but my only experience with it was
as a stop on the way to Charleston when I was 19, and I have to say I was less
than impressed. This picture of two of
my roommates and me on a fake bull in the parking lot sums up what I think
about South of the Border.
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When my friend stopped there again, more than 10 years after this picture, with her son and husband, she texted us that her little boy had asked if South of the Border was Disney world. I saw that text come through and had to giggle. He was going to the greatest place on earth for a child. I had seen him the week before he left, and he could not contain his excitement about seeing Mickey and wearing his wristband. And yet he saw nasty South of the Border and thought this must be the place he had been dreaming of going.
This sweet boy and his reaction
to South of the Border, reminded me of the verse in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that
says, “However it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and
what no human mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared for those who
love him.”
I did a study on Revelation with
my small group last year, and I have to say that the thoughts of the end times
and heaven left me a little more frightened than excited, but a common theme in
Revelation was that God can be trusted, and he is in control. I also know that I cannot possibly conceive
of what heaven will be like. But I know
from scripture that it will be wonderful – more wonderful than I can ever
imagine. While I’m thinking South of the
Border, God is thinking Disney World.
I think God’s anticipation for us
to experience the awesome things he has prepared for us doesn’t just apply to
the afterlife. I think it also applies
to life on earth. When my friend and her
family stopped at South of the Border and her son was so impressed with it, I
became even more excited to see pictures and videos of his reaction when they
finally arrived in Florida. And I’m not
even his mother! I can’t imagine the anticipation
she was feeling. I think the same is
true of our Father in heaven.
For example, I think of my
wedding day, which was so beautiful and full of excitement for me, but I wonder
if when looking at it, God was thinking, “Oh, you think this is a wonderful
place to be? Wait until you experience
the beautiful family and the sweet children I’ve planned for you.” Or when I rock my babies to sleep, and I
thank God for their little lives, I wonder if he is thinking, “Just wait until
you see who they become and what they will do for my Kingdom!”
I think the same is true in the
hard times. I remember a time when I was
dating Andy, and it felt like we were at a serious crossroads. I remember crying in my car, heartbroken and
devastated about where our relationship was and about the hopelessness I felt at
moving forward in a relationship with him.
I loved him, and it felt like it was over. And I vividly remember God saying, “This is
just a little bump in the road. Have
faith.” I actually laughed out loud and
remember responding, “But Lord, it doesn’t FEEL like a bump in the road.” And, yet, he was so right. That season did not come to define us, and I
rarely think of it now.
And though I’ve never experienced
absolute devastation myself, I also know God can bring beauty from ashes. Watching the lives of faithful Christians who
have lost much more than I could ever imagine, I know that God can take unimaginable
tragedy and still bring those who love him to a beautiful place of wholeness
and healing on earth – even if complete restoration won’t occur until they
reach heaven.
I’m so thankful for our South of
the Border places that remind us Disney World is coming. And I get more excited to think that the places
I believe are Disney may only be South of the Border.
