By Ryan Day

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).

Not long ago, I found myself in the middle of a passionate conversation my children were having around the dinner table. As I chewed happily on grilled pork chops, I listened to my sons exchange stories about which states they have had the privilege to visit. It was a fascinating back-and-forth, like watching a tennis ball in play at Wimbledon.

Because of family vacations, my sons were able to compare notes on their common experiences in Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. They had all conquered most of the East Coast. But that is where the similarities ended. While my older sons have traveled as far east as New York City, some of my younger sons haven’t even tasted New Jersey. One son was proud to announce that he had traveled by bus as far southeast as Kentucky, while another son lamented that he had been no farther west than Pittsburgh.

After each of the boys had his turn at the microphone, the group finally turned to Dad and Mom about the extent of our stateside travel experiences. My wife reminded our sons that she had been born at an Air Force base in Topeka, Kansas, but even though she is a Jayhawk by birth, she doesn’t remember anything about living there. When it was my turn, I shared how I used to travel with my parents and grandparents on occasion to beautiful Colorado for camping, fishing, and recreation at scenic spots near Cripple Creek, Pikes Peak, and Eleven Mile Canyon.