The King's Entrance

Amalfi, Italy

 Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory?

The LORD, strong and mighty,

the LORD, mighty in battle.  

Psalm 24:7-8

~In the center of the Advent trek, us walking streets through Rome and Naples, rounding rain-swept corners and navigating narrow, crowded streets

~In the center of playing tourist and visiting history of centuries past

~In the center of planes, trains, and Panda Fiats

~In the center of pizza and pasta and cappuccinos

~In the busy center, me all feeling disoriented from the season, relishing the family time but missing the slow, deliberate pace of walking towards the Christ of Christmas

 ~in the center of the trip we worshiped.

~At the Sea we forgot we were on vacation.  

~At the Sea we forgot there were important places to visit.  

~At the Sea we forgot there were unexpected expenses.  

~At the Sea we worshiped.

Here we remembered that we are always seeking the face of God, and this Advent trek became again about seeking the Holy.  Here the King of Glory entered our midst.  Here we could see.

Is it any wonder this thirty minutes carved out of a ten-day journey was the highlight of the trip for all of us?  There is indeed no greater joy than worship.  

The church at worship, with heads lifted up in expectation, is at the summit of earth's fullness.  (Eugene H. Peterson)

Lift up your heads, Favored One!  The King of Glory has entered in!