Heaven Or The Hampton?

Heaven or the Hampton?

From Henderson, Texas, to Paris, France, I’ve stayed in very few hotels that actually delighted me. For me, a hotel is a place to sleep. Don’t bother me with extras. That’s why the Hampton Inn in Brownwood, Texas, caught me off guard. The week my youngest niece turned nineteen, my sister and I drove west to her college in Brownwood to visit. I anticipated a long drive, a fun visit, and a mostly miserable night away from my own bed. But that’s not what I got.

The drive was long, and the visit was fun. But the Hampton was a total surprise. If you’re ever in Brownwood, you really should give it a try. The desk clerk was friendly and helpful. The lobby was spacious and clean and full of comfortable seating. A large, neat stack of newspapers sat waiting for any news-seeking guests like me. The business center had a serviceable computer with faster-than-dial-up speed and a printer . . . and both worked. The fitness center was well appointed too.

Our room was spotless and larger than in some four-star hotels. And the bed—well, I liked it better than my own! Even the aesthetics were thoughtful, down to the tiny black-and-white photos next to each room number.

Why am I going on about the Hampton? Because I never expected so much from tiny Brownwood. Because I’ve been disappointed in far more recognizable places. And because I believe part of the pleasure of these accommodations was how unexpectedly nice they were. Do you ever assume you know exactly where God will turn up and how? And do you sit at those spots and await the big “Ta-da!” only to be let down? I sometimes do.

If I do this for long, I miss whatever delight God has orchestrated elsewhere—because he is the God who parts water that’s never before split and who causes old women to bear children and small armies to route legions. He’s the God who helps young shepherds slay giants and arrives late to funerals to raise the dead. (It’s all in the book. I highly recommend it.)

As I sat on my four-pillowed, duvet-covered Hampton Inn bed, God reminded me of this. And today, I am eager to discover when—and how—he will surprise me again.

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:7