Held up at the Gate

By Telia Hand-Broadnax
 

As I drove through the gates of the parking deck on my way to yet another doctor's appointment the car in front of me came to a complete stop. No warning, no heads up;  just a complete stop.

Of course I had to stop as well. As I looked beyond that car I saw a long line of cars twisting and trying to snake their way through what appeared to me a massive traffic jam. For twenty minutes I sat in my car.  There appeared to be no way out or around this big mess. Cars behind me began to pile up and soon the line stretched out into the road. Still we sat there motionless.

I could sense the frustration of others around us as some came out from appointments only to discover that they couldn't even back out because they were blocked in. At one point an expectant mom jumped out of her car as who I assumed to be the expectant dad came from a different place and jumped in to take her place in the car so she could make it to their appointment on time.  I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed a gentleman in the car behind talking on the phone and gesturing wildly with a sheer look of animation on his face. My mind began to wander...I drifted to a place far away from the parking deck, from the city that I call home. I drifted to a place beyond the state that I love.  I drifted to a place far beyond the skies.

I drifted to a place where so many of my loved ones call home. I drifted to place where I hear the streets are lined with silver and gold. I drifted to a place where I hear there are many mansions waiting for those of us know about our Heavenly Father. Then suddenly my mind stopped and I imagined myself at the gates of heaven waiting patiently to get in. I saw so many people gathered there waiting. So many walks of life represented. As I continued to imagine myself there I thought about my life and the lives of others and these questions came to mind....

What might be your hold up at the Gate?
What might stop you just as you get through the Gate?
What might prevent you from getting the pass to go on through...

My mind came back to reality as the traffic jam suddenly eased up and the car in front of me began to slowly roll into a parking space left empty by another....I noticed the gentleman behind me still on the phone and as I hopped out to approach him he tentatively rolled down his window.  I smiled at him and asked him if he was late and he relaxed and indicated that he was. I assured him that he could have the next available parking spot and returned to my car my mind set on the awakening that had just occurred within me.

I realized again that how we live our lives here is a catalyst for how we will be received at the Gate. I don't know about you but I don't want to be held at Gate. I want to be able to pass right on through...