My husband and I had just
spent a fabulous eleven days in South Korea visiting our son. For a
few short moments we pretended to be Korean. We became chopstick aficionados while sitting on
the floor eating, enjoying pepper paste and kimchi. (I even braved a little octopus.) We lived in a Korean home and took in all the
sights, smells and sounds of this wonderful land. It was fantastic!
As incredible as that time was, it didn’t change the fact that we were visitors in a foreign land. We didn’t speak their language and we were awkward in our attempts to fit into the culture, in fact most of the time I wondered if I was offending them by my crazy American ways.
As incredible as that time was, it didn’t change the fact that we were visitors in a foreign land. We didn’t speak their language and we were awkward in our attempts to fit into the culture, in fact most of the time I wondered if I was offending them by my crazy American ways.
We
were just travelers passing through, taking in all we could for a few short
moments. Then, we kissed our son goodbye
and stepped back into the familiar. . .
Home. A place where we belong, where we can be completely us, where we’re
comfortable and things are familiar, like an old comfy sweater or a favorite
pair of worn out tennis shoes. Where we speak the same language, know the customs and are a little less awkward.
As
comfy and cozy as I am with my living situation here, this isn’t my true
home! This is just a stopping ground, a
place to pitch my tent while I await my heavenly lodgings. It’s why sometimes when I talk about God, I
feel like I’m speaking a different language. It’s why “things” never satisfy
and I just don’t seem to fit in. I'm awkward. And it’s
why I always seem to have this vague longing deep in my soul for something more.
This
place isn’t my real home.
The apostle
Peter speaks about this residency issue in 1 Peter 2.11 (I love how the Message
puts it), “Friends, this world is not
your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it . . . “
One
day we will take a different trip. One
day we’ll arrive at our true destination and the "immigration officer", our Savior will say with arms wide
open, “Welcome HOME, beloved. I've been waiting for you!”
Oh
what a day! It takes my breath away and
brings tears to my eyes.
Seriously,
I can’t wait!! Can you?
Heavenly Father, help me to never get too comfortable here that I forget where I truly belong, where my real home is. Amen.
Heavenly Father, help me to never get too comfortable here that I forget where I truly belong, where my real home is. Amen.
