IKEA, ideas and eternity

Wednesday 26th May 2021 started early for us. My husband, daughter and I had arrived in Melbourne and were woken at 5:30am by our little one. We were on board the Spirit of Tasmania and try as I might she was not going back to sleep. She must've sensed the day would be an exciting one.

We drove through sleepy Melbourne streets deciding where to find breakfast while listening to the news that 10 new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Melbourne in the City of Whittlesea area. As far as we were concerned this would not affect us. We went about our day as planned, site seeing, walking, a little shopping albeit all done while safely behind a mask.

Thursday 27th May on the other hand was a little bit more intense. Once again, the little girl woke at 6am and was keen to get out and about. So she and I rugged up and headed out of the apartment building while it was still dawning and found a breakfast spot. Little did I know that when we arrived back another 9 confirmed cases (and as I write this at 3:30pm on this day it number sits at 12). We waited to see an announcement from the government about the possibility of a lock-down and further restrictions.

We stuck to our plan to go to IKEA, because what else does a Tasmanian on the mainland do but go to IKEA? As we walked around making lists and filling our trolley we kept getting texts and calls asking how we were. Suddenly the news reached us, 'Lock-down from midnight tonight for 7 days'. What would that mean for us? Would we be able to go home? Tasmania was shutting its borders to travellers from Victoria arriving from 2pm that day. Our sail home was set for Friday.

While sitting in the IKEA restaurant, we tried to make a plan. We had many ideas of what to do.

Idea 1: Reschedule sail to that night.

Not possible: no car spaces available (we had Marcus' work vehicle with us and that MUST go with us).

Idea 2: Apply for a G2G pass and hope Tasmania would let us come home and quarantine on our property.

Possible: As I write this we're waiting for the verdict...

Idea 3: Reschedule our sail to a week from when it's currently set and hope the snap lock-down would do the thing it was meant to.

Possible: But not ideal.

Idea 4: Be denied entry back into Tasmania, be stuck in Victoria with no idea when this will end or pass enough for us to go home. Will it be another 10 months of lock-down? WORST CASE SCENARIO... don't go there!

Idea 5: Marcus flies home and I stay with the little girl and the car.

Nope. Marcus needs the car.

Idea 6: Little girl and I fly home and Marcus stays.

Nope. He's more necessary at home. Although that would take care of our issue with our animals at home.

Idea 2 won.

While Daddy and daughter nap, it's occurred to me that wanting to go home, wanting to be together, to travel home together, even to quarantine together with my family made me think of heaven. While we live this life here, our minds can often focus on the temporary life we have here. We are consumed with 'living your best life', and 'you do you'. But we were not made for this life and this world as we know it. We were created with something far more exciting, engaging and rewarding, though great this life and world may be (when COVID isn't rearing it's ugly head). More importantly, those of us who long for home, for heaven, for eternity with Jesus, shouldn't only be concerned with our own self-preservation and attendance in heaven. Rather we should be striving, praying, sharing Jesus so that those we love may be there with us.

I don't know about you, but these restrictions haven't hit hard in many areas of my life personally, other than separation from my parents who are in Sydney. And now the prospect of not being able to go home.

But what hits me hardest is the idea that some day, I'll return to my true home and someone I love may not be there. Have I done enough? Have I shared enough? Have I prayed for people enough? Have I loved with Christ's love? I know that it doesn't all come down to me and my work. Ultimately that's the work of the Holy Spirit. But we are called to be part of the process.

As we walked around IKEA, still going about our day as planned, while also making plans for our return home the idea came to me that that's what this life is about. Living it, doing the things, but with an eternal orientation in the back of our minds. Keeping that constant thought that we are going home. We don't know how, we don't know when. But the time is coming (Matthew 24:42, 44). Will you be there? Will your loved ones and friends be there? Have you prepared them? (Hebrews 10:24-25, Revelation 22:12).

N.

P.S. As we wait for the verdict and what the outcome of this will be, would you please pray for my family and my friend Talitha who is in the same situation?