Oh! The Long Road

I recently found myself travelling at approximately 800 km/h. You will be wondering: was I dreaming or was I flying?
Well, the latter would be correct. I had boarded a jet heading for Kelowna, B.C., my childhood hometown.
The air travel itself was pleasantly uneventful.
As I settled in and began daydreaming (I admit, while safety demonstrations were going on), I contemplated Mary and Joseph and their trip to Bethlehem. It was a journey they were forced to take to fulfill the taxation decree.
When Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, it wasn’t by car or airplane but on foot. On foot! Even on­ the plane, I remember thinking, ‘I’d love to take these shoes off.’
Likely Mary rode on a donkey the whole way. It was a journey that would have taken several days. When was the last time you decided to go somewhere and walk for days to get there? Let alone do it while expecting a baby?
Airplane washrooms can be tight in space, but on that long trip, how would this couple have endured the simple task of going to the bathroom?
In Luke I read: “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered… Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem… to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child.
A hike of about 125 kilometres. If you managed 25 kilometres a day, that’s five days hiking. And with a donkey and Mary in the last weeks of pregnancy, nobody is going to manage.
Joseph, obviously close to the Lord and schooled in the Old Testament, would likely hold on to what Moses said to Joshua as he sent him out to lead Israel in Deut 31:8:

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

My fellow passengers were polite and friendly. Unlike what you see on YouTube, videos of passengers being hauled off planes by police for being drunk and belligerent. Ah, the beauty of living in Canada.
I had treated myself to an upgrade. A front row seat, wider than those from the fourth row on back. This extravagance included a rubber chicken dinner complete with real glassware and a metal knife and fork. A small thing unless you’ve tried cutting meat with a plastic fork and knife. As I was wishing I could wash my hands, the flight attendant handed me a hot towel for just that task. So this is how the other half live. What did Mary and Joseph eat while they journeyed? I’m sure they packed food for the journey, but how much can you carry? There were no suitcases with little wheels on the bottom available.
It was good to land in Kelowna. I was welcomed by my two, dare I say, older sisters. One I had not seen in four years.
It is surreal when you haven’t been in a town for a few years. How could it change this much? Your once ideal hometown has turned into a sea of commerce and high rises. Very little looked familiar.
My niece came from Calgary for three days, and it was good to catch up. Her one-hour plane ride took a bit longer than her drive to get to the airport. After a 10-day visit, a few good laughs and some much-anticipated garlic fries, I was on my way home.
I realize we don’t all live within a short distance of the people we love. Sometimes we must hop on a plane and travel for a day to see them.
Mary and Joseph made another long trek when the Lord—through an angel—told them to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill their child.

Matthew 2:13 “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod…”

Off they struggled to Egypt. Another long hike, another week or more on the road heading to a strange country away from family and friends.
They were there three years.
I’m sure Joseph and Mary’s thoughts again turned to what the Lord said to Joshua. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)
In the New Testament, we find similar words from Jesus for our journey through life:
“…behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”