July 10 was my son's 7th birthday. At the time, we happened to be in Wisconsin visiting my family. A few days before, I asked him what he'd like to do for his special day. He said he wanted to go to Moto in downtown Chicago where they film the cable TV show "Future Food". If you're not familiar with the show, "molecular gastronomists" Homaro Cantu and Ben Roche defined as "world renowned chefs, successful restaurateurs, patent-owning mad scientists and celebrated futurists" prepare cutting-edge creations using science and creative culinary techniques. I have to admit, it's pretty amazing what they do on their show and the idea sounded like a lot of fun. So, I called to inquire. They only had 10 and 20-course taste menus, both of which were cost prohibitive for a 7 year old birthday dinner. Before I hung up, I felt nudged to explain our situation to the hostess...that we had come all the way from Arizona, it was my son's birthday, my kids watch the show, and I'm sure I whined a little. "Can we at least come for a dessert or a drink so my kids can see it," I pleaded. She happily explained that they had a four-course dessert tasting available (at a far more reasonable price) that they don't publicize (until now in this blog!) and that they would love to have us. She also said that they would likely be able to give us a tour of the kitchen and the kids could meet the chefs. Sold! I made the reservation.
We spent the day at the Field Museum exploring and enjoying the wonders of creation, including Sue, the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered and Lyuba, a 42,000-year-old intact baby mammoth. Between the exhibits, my kids would ask, "When are we going to Moto?" I would reply, "Later. For now, enjoy these amazing exhibits!"
When it came time to go to Moto, the kids were beside themselves. We quickly changed in the car and rushed to Moto to make our 5 p.m. reservation. Treated like royalty, we were seated at a reserved table with several waiters who circled the table regularly making sure we had everything we needed. The kids were served a cherry-infused cola with a cotton candy float served in a Erlenmeyer flask. Their eyes beamed! After four rounds of beautiful gourmet desserts, the maitre d took us to the basement where we toured the "lab" and the kitchen. Chef Ben from the show was there and immediately greeted us, jumping over the line to shake hands with my son, wish him happy birthday, and sign a personalized menu they had printed for him. Following the tour, we were served a pineapple soda float with an edible packing peanut that had been enhanced to taste like vanilla ice cream and had been dipped in liquid nitrogen so it was frozen and steaming. This was something my kids had seen on the show, and was the highlight of their evening aside from the tour of the kitchen. For my kids, this experience was far more than they could have ever imagined and was as close to "heaven" as they had ever been. Since the night at Moto, I have listened to them try to retell the story to their friends and relatives, only to hear them say, "The pictures don't really show what happened. I can't explain it. You just have to go sometime!" Sadly, the experience of the Field Museum usually gets left out of the story unless I bring it up. You see, they have been to "heaven" and all else now pales in comparison.
After the experience of "heaven" with my kids, I found myself thinking about the "real" heaven and what it might look like. I have read about the throne room in Isaiah and Revelation, and I am certain there are no words that could ever express or capture its majesty. In Don Piper's book 90 Minutes in Heaven, Piper recalls his experience of heaven in the 90 minutes he was dead following a car accident. So amazed and enamored by the sights and sounds, he didn't even want to return to his life on earth. He says that words were not sufficient to explain the experience. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'" It blows me away that this is what we have to look forward to some day.
This got me thinking about the phrase, "It's not the destination that counts, it's the journey." I believe that some of us live focused on and even obsessed with thoughts of eternity, where all else pales in comparison. Others live experiencing the journey, living life to the fullest without giving much though to the afterlife. King Solomon, the wisest of all kings, wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1," He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." However, Solomon also wrote in verse 5:18, "Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot."
You see, life is a balancing act. It's about living our lives with eternity in our minds and hearts, while fully experiencing and appreciating the blessings and the beauty of life we have been given. Since the days we have are numbered, then shouldn't we enjoy them, fully experiencing the "journey" while before we get to our "destination"? God has planted the seeds of eternity in our hearts in order that we might experience a little bit of heaven here and now. Because it's both the destination and the journey that count!
To learn how to eat mindfully and live vibrantly, join my for my upcoming "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat" mindful eating workshop series that starts August 13. For more information, click here.
To learn how to live a more balanced and intentional life and experience the joy of Holy Yoga, join us for our upcoming "Face Down on Your Mat" Holy Yoga retreat August 20-22 in Tucson. For more information, click here.
