Recently, as a birthday gift for my ten-year-old, I took her and her friend Brianna to the Nick Hotel in nearby Orlando. Nick, short for the Nickelodeon Network, is the backdrop—if you will—for the hotel’s theme. Each suite is decorated in a theme suitable for children (ours was The Fairly Oddparents). For an entire afternoon, the girls frolicked in the water park with its four story high water tower and 400-gallon water dump tank (which spills out at random). That evening, they played in the arcade, mingled with Nick characters and then, the following morning, had an incredible breakfast buffet and dining with SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.

At the end of our twenty-four hour adventure, my daughter exclaimed, “This was the best day ever!” which was quickly followed by, “I can’t wait to do it again!”

Better is One Day…

I was led to reflect on my “best day ever.” But, for someone who has lived five decades, I realized there were a lot of “best days ever.” So, I reflected on the best recent day ever.

Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to read that it took place during my most recent trip to Israel. I woke up that morning in my room at Hotel Nof Ginnosar, opened the curtains and looked out to watch the waves of the Sea of Galilee lap along the shore. After a delicious breakfast, my friend Miriam and I ventured into Northern Israel, gawking along the way as Mount Hermon, covered in snow and seemingly hung in the sky by God, beckoned us forward. We arrived at Tel Hazor a little after 8:00 in the morning, had strong coffee with our friend and park’s director, Mr. Hussein el-Heib, then took a private tour among the ruins of the city Joshua had burned to the ground a few thousand years ago. Two hours later we went to Banias/Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” From there, up to the snowy slopes of Hermon, then down again to Nimrod’s Fortress, “The Castle of the Large Cliff” (see photo at top of article), where the incredible vista of the Golan spread before us. We stopped at a Druze farmer’s market, bought fresh vegetables and fruits and had a picnic lunch. Then we retreated further down the mountains until we reached the Dan Reserve. For hours we hiked through the pristine wilderness, along crystal rushing streams and calm wading pools. Then, back to the car, and a drive to the Arbel Cliff overlooking the fertile Galilee (see photo). A hike up the backside of Arbel gave a most memorable rush. My heart pounded as the sun set to my left, casting a gold and rosy hue over the Sea of Galilee. When I reached its top, I spread my arms in wonder, and my friend snapped a photo. It was one of the happiest, giddiest moments of my life; the perfect end to the perfect day. I’d seen God in the majesty of His Holy Land.