Almost Heaven

Ellie looked out across the lake and saw the houses with children and animals running around and having fun. It brought a pleased smile to her usually dim expression. As Ellie shifted her gaze to her friends swimming in the water, frolicking and enjoying themselves, she realized that there truly was no place she would rather be. She had always been a loner, not overly interested in large groups. She enjoyed her Youth Group, made up of about fifteen rowdy--yet kind-- teenagers, but that was about it. Her Youth Group had come out together to a lake for the weekend. They had arrived on Thursday, and now they were nearing Saturday afternoon. They would have to start heading back tonight if they wanted to return in time for church on Sunday. Ellie sighed. It seemed almost unfair. Just when she finally adjusted and got used to being camping, it was already time to go. Unfortunately, that was how it often seemed to be with everything. She took too much time adjusting to things. She did it because she didn't like change. What are you doing Ellie? She asked herself, Why must you keep dwelling on past and future when you would do so much better to just enjoy the present? Galvanized by that thought, she launched into the water, and joined the fun. After about an hour, she crawled back onto the dock, followed by her friend, Mason. He had always been her encourager, her support. He empathized with her, and provided the human moral support that she needed during the times when she needed it most. He was the most important person in her life, second only to God, and her best friend, Meg. As they leaned back and enjoyed the feel of the sun on their skin, Mason spoke,

"What's eating you, Ell? You've seemed a bit out of it today." Ellie shifted so she could look into his eyes.

"Sometimes I just wish things would last a little longer, you know? It seems like things just pass by too quickly, like we're not even really there to enjoy them. This campout has been so much fun, but really, we only showed up the afternoon before yesterday, and we already have to leave tonight. It's just not enough time, you know?" Mason looked at her with eyes full of warmth and compassion. He understood her restlessness. And he knew just how to tame it.

"Where are you Ell?" Ellie recognized what he was doing, but decided to go along with it anyway,

"I'm at a campout with my Youth Group." She responded with a sardonic smile.

"What is happening?" He continued.

"I'm having a conversation with my friend, while watching the rest of my Youth Group gang up on my Youth leader in a twisted and violent game of Marco Polo."

"And how does it make you feel?" He asked in conclusion to his self-invented grounding technique.

"Content." She replied after a moment of consideration. Mason smiled. Ellie smiled back. Then she laughed. She didn't even really know why, she just couldn't hold it in. She laughed harder, and harder, until Mason finally joined in. By the time the two teenagers had composed themselves, they both had tears in their eyes. They leaned back out onto the dock so that they were laying side by side, eyes closed, so that the sun wouldn't blind them. They stayed that way for a short while. Then Ellie smiled, and said.

"I wish we could stay here forever. All of us. Laying here in the sun, talking with you, listening to the antics of our friends. It's almost heaven."

"Emphasis on the almost, Ell," She heard the smile in his voice, "Heaven will be so much better." He gave a deep sigh of contentment before he finished. "But I will admit, this is pretty nice."

Shortly afterward, they made their way back into the water, and the whole group enjoyed themselves until it was time to get back to the campsite. While they were all drying off, their Youth leader, Jackson McClehan and his wife, Sara, pulled some hot dogs, buns, and condiments out of the oversized cooler they had brought with them, and started to roast them as the teens meandered their way to the firepit to warm up. The group settled in, and ate their hot dogs while trying to out-talk one another. Mason, Meg, and Ellie were the only ones talking quietly. Well, I'm glad they're having fun, although I honestly don't see what's enjoyable about shouting so incessantly. Ellie thought. She could tell that Meg felt the same. But the three of them were enjoying talking with their Youth leaders, and Meg was obviously enamored with Jackson and Sara's adorable young toddler, Alex, who was sitting in his portable high chair next to them. After everyone had eaten their fill, Jackson addressed them,

"OK, everyone, time to settle down. I'm going to do a quick devotional, then we can take prayer requests, and then we can dig out the smores . . . Sound like a plan people?" Everyone quickly nodded their assent and bowed their heads for Jackson's opening prayer. The talk tonight was about joy. Then, afterwards, the group enjoyed their smores, and started to pack up their things. About two hours later, they piled into two cars, one driven by Jackson, and the other Sara, and started the two hour drive back home. They had eaten dinner early, so by now it was only seven-forty five. Ellie was in Sara's car, with Mason, Meg, Alex, and several others. She had been fortunate enough to get a window seat. July in Alaska, even at this time of night, sported the sun still fairly high the sky, and as such, Ellie had an amazing view of mountains and greenery. She leaned back into the headrest of her seat and relaxed to the conversation buzzing in her ears revolving around when to plan another one of these campouts. Just before she finally drifted off, she thought again, Lord, if heaven will be better than this weekend, then I can't wait to get there. But, in the meantime, I am more than satisfied with the times like these that are, truly, "Almost Heaven". And with that, she fell asleep, aware only of the pleasant dream she was having.