He had been looking forward to this moment all day long, after six
days of labor and it had finally arrived - Visiting Day!
The man with the keys arrived to swing open the large, heavy doors.
The cold gray hall sprang to life in the warm glow of light. He could
hardly control his emotions.
The families began to arrive. He peers from the corner of the room
longing for the first glimpse of his loved ones. He lives for the
weekends. He lives for these visits.
As the cars arrive, he watches intently.
Then, finally, they arrive, for whom he would do anything. They
embrace, eat a light lunch and reminisce how things used to be. At
one point, they break into singing, with interruptions of laughter
and applause.
But all too soon it is over. A tear comes to his eyes as they depart.
Then the men with the keys close the heavy doors. He hears the key
turn in the lock marking the end of a special day.
There he stands, alone again. He knows that most of his visitors
will not contact him again till next week.
As the last car pulls away from the parking lot, Jesus retreats
into loneliness as He waits until next Sunday - Visiting Day.
