Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, Lord, it’s good that were here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ~Matthew 17:1-4 (CEB)
Every vacation must come to an end. Each good moment cannot last forever. Life is like that. As we say goodbye to the family we traveled so far to visit, the eleven hour drive home feels like such a letdown after all the excitement of visiting with family and daily exploration trips. Now we have the mundane time of clicking off the miles ready to be home and yet not ready to be back in our everyday lives. “Let’s just stay longer,” my son says. But the real world pulls on us and home we must go.
My son’s request reminds me of Peter, on top of that mountain with James and John when Jesus was transformed in front of them. When he shared this awesome moment with Jesus and his closest friends he didn’t want to leave either. He wanted to stay in that moment. Jesus’ silence to Peter’s request reminds us of the obvious, they couldn’t stay up there and neither can we.
There is work for me to do, responsibilities that need my attention, additional places that I must go. No matter how much I long to stay, I must come down from this mountain. I must experience other parts of life as well. Through good times and bad I know that Jesus is traveling with me down the mountain, through the valleys and back to the mountain top again. The cycle of life continues on but my comfort is knowing that Jesus travels these roads with me.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for mountain top experiences and for everyday life. Help me to enjoy all the paths of life that you have laid out for me. Amen.
Pieces of the Puzzle 