There was a lot of excitement and anticipation for our family vacation to a favorite destination. I had a good night’s sleep the night before our journey to a distant land and I even managed to get some exercise the morning of our departure. We had two eight-hour flights as well as a two-hour layover. We booked the least expensive economy seats so it was going to be a really long trip. There would be a meal on the flight so I tried to consume healthy, smart, and not too many calories before the journey. I was energized and ready!
The meal was quite good for airplane food and shortly after dinner I was feeling a bit drowsy so I adjusted my seat and arranged my belongings for maximum sleep comfort. I fell asleep almost immediately, then about thirty minutes later I awoke in a panic with a feeling I hadn’t had in a very long time: I was going to vomit. On an airplane.
Feeling delirious, I grabbed the motion sickness bag and tried to open it. The cabin lights were dimmed and I couldn’t find the opening, so I jumped out of my seat as quickly as possible and darted toward the lavatory. The look of panic and horror on my face must have scared everyone nearby as they quickly got out of the way.
Fortunately, I was able to enter the lavatory, lock the door and “hit the target” without making a mess of the restroom or myself. All I could think as the contents of my stomach were violently emptied was “when will this be over” and “one moment at a time”. I was all alone on the dirty floor of a very small bathroom (a germophobe’s nightmare), feeling miserable and scared. Was it something I ate? Will my family also get sick? Will I get worse? When will it end?
The long journey became a really long journey as I vomited throughout both flights. My main prayers were that I’d make it to the toilet (and not have to vomit in a bag from my seat) and that none of my family would get sick.
Reflecting on those dark hours, I think I caught a glimpse into what Hell might be like. Emptiness, pain, loneliness, darkness, sorrow, and hopelessness. I felt those emotions with a huge magnitude. I wanted to cry out and while I knew God was with me, those feelings were real because we live in a fallen world, full of diseases of the physical and emotional kind.
This all leads me to the cross where Jesus hung. He was mocked, tortured, rejected, betrayed, and alone. I suffered involuntarily and only with a brief illness. Jesus voluntarily suffered and gave his life. He died so that you and I could live a life abundant, without fear of eternal punishment. His cross was unimaginable. He was perfect. I am a sinner but saved so I do not have to endure the eternal suffering because Jesus already paid the price.
Wherever you are today, whether high on the mountain or down in the depths, Jesus knows your name, he died for you, he knows your suffering, and he loves you more than you can comprehend. Rest and be glad today in his love, mercy, and grace.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, (Philippians 2:7)