UTOPIA

“Utopia, Texas?” My husband and I quipped in unison as we sped toward the sign pointing the road to Utopia was left at the next intersection.

“Hey…” I scrambled in my travel bag for my latest edition of Texas Hill Country magazine. “…I think that’s the place we were gonna eat lunch.”

“Are you hungry right now?” Without waiting for my answer, he turned where the sign indicated. “Utopia, huh? Wonder if it really is?”

Who in the world would name a town Utopia? What town could possibly live up to that name? Roget’s Thesaurus identifies the word as meaning “good times, hope, paradise.” While I love the Hill Country, don’t think I would use those words to describe any town I’d seen there. Dry, rocky, scenic—sure! But Utopia? However, the picture in THC magazine of that gorgeous, mouth-watering coconut cream pie sent my taste buds into a shimmy. “Yeah, let’s eat before we go to Lost Maples.”

Have you ever set your heart on something you’ve seen in pictures only to be disappointed when the object of your imagination is placed in front of you? As we traveled the winding curves over the hills toward Utopia I hoped this place would be the exception to that rule.

Twenty minutes later my husband slowed to allow a car to pass. “This sure better be worth the diversion. I’m ready for a hike in the park.”

I gave his belly a pat. “After that scrumptious pie, you’ll need that hike.” Oh how I hoped The Lost Maples Café would be as good as it looked in the magazine. Didn’t want to hike with a grumpy husband.

As we neared our destination the landscape opened into a valley with lush ranches, lined with numerous rolls of plump, second-cut hay, a beautiful river and water fall that set the stage for our arrival in this quiet Hill Country town.

The streets were neat, clean, and picturesque. Then we spied the café. The birds sang, the angels sang, and the peace of this quiet town filled my spirit—now if only the food were equally good.

A buzz of conversation filled the air as we walked into this quaint, but delightful place. The sound of  “Hello, sit wherever you’re comfortable” met us at the door. And we spent the next hour or so enjoying the benefits of country pleasantries as people who knew each other and strangers alike soaked up the friendliness, great food, and decompressed atmosphere.

This town was definitely Utopia! But what about the food?

The hamburgers were homemade and grilled to perfection—no out-of-the-freezer patties or in-a-hurry waitresses here. Half-way through lunch I noticed our waitress cutting one of those lucious pies! And oh, my! The meringue was high and perfectly toasted, but I also noticed there were several other kinds of pies, each more mouthwatering than the last—coconut cream, cherry, pecan, and chocolate pecan. Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

My husband chose cherry. I had to have the coconut cream with the mile-high meringue, but my mouth watered at the thought of chocolate pecan. So, we ordered all three! The chocolate pecan would hold for a midnight snack. Maybe!

Those dancing taste buds of mine sighed “Ahhh,” with the first mouthful of the creamiest, yummiest, filling—but the meringue was special—creamy too. And the crust? Best ever! Oh, just wonderful!

As we left Utopia I thought about two other destinations. Destinations each one of us will choose—one or the other—Heaven or Hell. The length of the trip for many is long and full of years. Plenty of time to make up your mind or change your mind over which path to take. For others, in our reality, the trip ends far too soon, no time for a change in destination.

Which direction are you headed today?

You can know for sure.

Jesus left His throne in heaven, came to this earth to sacrifice His life so you could choose to be with Him forever. He promises if we accept His payment on Calvary for our sins and believe He is the Christ, the Son of God, it’s enough, and like that thief on the cross, we will be with Him forever. And there is no wondering if Eternity with Christ will be good—it is beyond our ability to conceive.

But there are many Jesus tells us, a bunch more, who choose the darkness of hell. Cut off from God forever. Those who choose to live life their way. Those who mock and forsake the holiness and righteousness of God. Those who live for the moment and the pleasure sin provides for that moment.

The choice is yours.

I’m so glad Dick and I a glimpse of life in Utopia, Texas, a few weeks ago, and know because we love Him and obey Him, we have an eternal utopia with our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever.

“A glorious throne on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord. Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise!” (Jeremiah 17:12-14 NAS).