Here is the brief story of two men I met today. Since I do not know their names I will name them by the two statues representing the state of California at the Capitol in Washington DC: Junipero Serra and Ronald Reagan. Here is the explanation: Junipero was a Spanish Franciscan friar who practiced a vow of poverty, dressed simply in brown colors, and his life’s goal was to build missions in California where he gave Indians refuge and helped them to progress materially and spiritually (at least that is the idyllic version). The other, Ronald, needs no introduction: tall, handsome actor, renowned politician, rich, famous, Anglo.
We met our own Juniper and Ronald today at the Chicago airport when my wife and I were returning home. Junipero approached us timidly. A man of about 45 years old, dressed simply, backpack on his back, his head covered with a "cap" and on his feet Mexican sandals, through which you could see his white socks. He asked us to help him transfer to his next flight. He spoke no English. On the way to his gate he told us his story. This was his first time boarding an airplane. For the last 13 years he has come to work in the U.S. Hired by an agricultural company that hires laborers in Mexico. They bring them legally with working visas. The yearly trip takes them three days by bus. Each year he works hard for 8 months in order to spend the other 4 months back with his family. Last night, while cutting and tying up Christmas trees on a mountain in Virginia, with freezing temperatures and snow covering the field, he received the sad news that her mother had died. The field manager, a compassionate man, sent him immediately to Mexico. His friends took up a collection and his boss gave him one hundred dollars. Juniper was sad, but also he was impressed by the generosity of his boss, the love of his buddies and felt nervous on his first arrival to Mexico by plane. Also, he needed to take a bus for six hours to arrive in his native Hidalgo.
Because of our helping Juniper Nona and were the last ones to board our plane. At the departure lounge we could see the airline employees looking in our direction. When we got closer one of the stewards told Ronald - “Ok, captain, now we can depart”. The pilot was a 60 years old man, blond, tall, handsome and educated. He advanced with long strides ahead of us. As he entered the plane he took the microphone and announced: "Ladies and gentlemen: This is my last flight. After 24 years of service today I'm retiring." All passengers applauded. Then he reported that his wife and children were among the passengers to celebrate his retirement. He thanked the company and the airline staff for their support, and then, in gratitude, bought each passenger a muffin. I told my wife: "What strange stories have crossed our lives today: a man who is taking a plane for the first time in his life, and another man who is taking his last flight, at least as a pilot." Landing in Los Angeles was one of the smoothest we have experienced. On the way to the gate, two fire trucks honored our captain with a great arc of water where the pilot proud of his plane drove under this giant car wash celebrating his retirement day. As we left the plane each passenger shake hands and congratulated him.
Juniper will surely arrive safely to his humble hut in southern Mexico to give his mother a Christian burial. Ronald, on the other hand, will arrive enjoy his spacious Angelino mansion in a fashionable area of the city in order to spend the rest of his years in a pleasant retired life.
I imagine that as Juniper has crossed the border 13 times in grueling journeys searching for a livelihood for his family, so Ronald also crossed the skies of this planet piloting a Boeing 737 for thousand times.
One thing makes them equals: both are pilgrims and strangers on this world, like you and me.
Hebrews 11.13-16: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
My prayer is that Junipero Serra and Ronald Reagan, my own “bracero” Juniper and my pilot Ronald, and all my friends Hispanic-Latino and Anglo-Saxons, rich and poor, black and white, all of us can live a life of expectation for the city that God is preparing for us. For that we must recognize this fact: we are all but pilgrims and strangers in this world. Our final destination will be the completion of our journey.
“God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
