The King

Last night, while talking with my nearly 4-year-old niece, I told her I might see the King today.

"Do you know what a king is?" I asked, figuring all of her princess dress up clothes would tip her off to the structure of royalty. No such luck. "Um, what about a queen?" Silence. "Well, you know how America has a President as our leader, right?" No dice. "President Obama?" I asked, feeling desperate. I mean, this is a bright little girl who was making up knock-knock jokes about Mike Rowe, the host of "Dirtiest Jobs". If she hears a name, it's gonna stick.

"Well," I plowed ahead, "America has a President as our leader, and Jordan has a King as its leader."
"Wait," she piped up, "I know a king!"
"You do," I asked, "Who?"
"Uncle Kyle!" she wailed into the phone, full of laughter and excitement. And here I thought I was the only one who thought my amazing husband was worthy of such a title! :)

As it turned out, I did catch a glimpse of the King today while "assisting" at a military exhibition. I noticed a man loitering in our corner of the pavilion with an ear piece tucked into his suit, and then I saw the flood of men walking towards us. Thankfully, they walked back by us, since I wasn't fully clued in during the first pass. Standing on my tippy-toes, I honed in on the one man in uniform, expecting it to be the King (Weird Al may not even have as many wardrobe changes as our King...suit King, Air Force King, sheik King, soccer goalie King...I just didn't know which one to look for today). Instead, the King was directly in front of the military officer in a business suit--and was the shortest one of his whole group of bodyguards and security men! No matter his stature, the people of Jordan (on a whole) love King Abdullah II and it was a delight to glimpse him today when he passed just three feet or so from me!

While touring Petra and the Royal Tombs, my sister, Amy, commented how difficult it is for many of us Americans to grasp the significance of Christ being our King and, in fact, the King of Kings. Yet, during her week in Jordan wherein she saw MANY pictures throughout the country of dear King Abdullah II, she began to glimpse the adoration and honor given him as well as the everyday Jordanian's excitement at the prospect of catching even a glance of his/her King. And to think, we are given not only the chance to look upon the King of Kings face and to know Him personally, but we are offered the chance to become CHILDREN of the King if we will believe that Jesus is God's Son. In a country where adoption is frowned upon and the notion of giving your inheritance to someone not in your bloodline (i.e. through adoption) is unthinkable, God's offer of adoption into his royal family and promise of a shared inheritance with His Son is that much more amazing.

Isn't The King remarkable?