Passengers and Immigrants

As I stood in line at the airport ticket counter to leave the Caribbean, a group was ushered to a designated line especially for them. Those of us who had been waiting wondered why they were receiving priority treatment.  At first it was said that they were a tour group.  Then we found out that this group of about 100, mostly younger families, were immigrating to Mexico.  As I moved from line to line, I had to follow them.  As they waited to go thru immigration, they hugged, and then hugged some more loved ones they were leaving behind, maybe never to be seen again.

As I waited at the gate, the emotions went from laughter and congratulations to uncontrolled sobbing.  The pay phones had lines, making one last call.  Families talked about what it would be like on the airplane.  

One man walked sternly across the terminal right up to the gate.  He stood there until we boarded.  Was he ready to go, or, was it his way of dealing with his emotions.

What prompted them to leave their country for another?  An unknown country.  Will the new place bring a better life?  They have a hope in something they have only heard about, not seen.  For the parents, probably not a better life.  For the children, they will have more opportunity, if they take it. 

As I moved with this group and sat among them on the plane, my heart raced and my eyes watered as their emotions went up and down.

We have a hope in something unseen and the promise of a better place.  We can depend on the promise of God for eternal life and as passengers on this earth we anticipate our immigration to heaven.