In two days we will board a plane in New York and make the long flight to Israel. It will be our trip of a lifetime if you don’t count a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas in 1999 that was totally off my radar plans. So, we’ve done the hard part of saving every dollar we could find for the last 18 months or so. Everything is paid. The company handling our time in the Holy Land has taken care of all the necessary booking arrangements. Items we need have been purchased. New clothes will help fill our suitcases. The clock is slowly ticking away the last hours as we do final preparation to be gone for 11 days. What am I doing? I’m cleaning the house.

Why is it, that when we women are going to leave our home for any length of time we go to tireless degrees to make sure it’s clean. So far today I’ve washed two loads of laundry, cleaned both bathrooms, swept the hardwood floor and as part of doing up the dirty dishes in the sink I found myself washing the top of the refrigerator! Now mind you, the fridge needs attention and I usually do wash it monthly, but why today of all days for goodness sake? It’s the 19th of March and I’m doing a job I normally reserve for another day on the calendar!

I also put away the last of my snowmen decor. It was time. My husband has been patient long enough being greeted by my whimsical guys in almost every room in the house. Plus, I figure because we return April 1 that by all rights snowmen need to make way for tulips, daffodils and other beautiful spring flowers!

As I was going about my cleaning chores I was pleasantly reminded of a Bible verse that speaks to the temporary of my life. Hebrews 13:14 says “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come”. When I get too full of worrisome thoughts or pondering the ills of our current culture, this verse gives me a lot of comfort. Factor in the awesome opportunities we will have  walking the same sites that Jesus did! My mind is barely able to comprehend the anticipation of all the sights, smells and sounds waiting for us as we visit different cities and sites. So, if all of this so exciting (and it is!) why am I cleaning? I think it’s because as women we like things “right”. We enjoy everything being in its “rightful place”. And, additionally–for me anyway–I want to come home from a long trip and not have to pour myself into daily chores until I’ve had time to recoup and acclimate to being home.

As I’m preparing for a trip to another country, there’s another goal for me remember, the anticipation of my “home yet to come”. There is no doubt I will see and experience places that Jesus walked, but my future home is where I really belong and is an assignment God wants me to prepare using great care and hope. Matthew 6:33 says “Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Right now I’m pretty happy with what I have. Our home is safe, warm, furnished with beautiful things that have deep meaning. Dust accumulates and dirt finds it way in, but with a little bit of effort and the right supplies it’s not long before surfaces are shiny and clean. I think getting ready for heaven is a little bit like cleaning house. With the right supplies–God’s Word and prayer–I’m staying clean and ready. As clean as anyone can anyway considering that none of us is perfect.

I’ll continue to read God’s Word and pray. I’ll imagine my “home yet to come”. In addition, in the meantime–I’ll continue cleaning when necessary. Even get to the top of the fridge because I don’t know how long I have until I trade this house for my Home.

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