Perhaps one of the most valuable things about living a well-travelled life is that your heart learns to see Home differently. There are countless people (Christian and nonbelievers alike) whom I love dearly, but I know I will not see again in this lifetime.
I remember when it first hit me how huge Heaven is-- huge as in 'size' (as if it could have a set boundary, ha) but also as a huge deal. It was last summer at an Innovator picnic at Lake, and as we were fellowshipping with our friends down by the water and just finishing up pictures and wrapping up with goodbyes, I said to my friend Thomas something like "I am so grateful that there is a Heaven, because otherwise I'd be so sad right now."
So many things have blasted my traditional view of "home" as I know many people have it. For them, home may be a particular street address long after they've moved away.
In my life, I grew up with 3 older siblings who were grown and moved away to other states before I graduated high school. And just months before that graduation, my dad died from cancer at our house in Holland. There was nothing to tie me to that house but fondness for many of the memories there. To further the point, I might add that when I moved to Calvin, I moved permanently away from that house I grew up in, because my mom was re-married that September. (In fact, if I had to describe one place on earth that I could name as "home," it would probably be my flat in Glasgow.)
But I wasn't left with a feeling of dislocation--It's not as though I have no home at all. All of this, including my travels to Europe with EuroQuest in 2004 (and my "family" I travelled with) as well as my time in Yellowstone for 3 months last summer, and my semester abroad in Scotland last fall, and my past coupled with the feelings of longing to be moving again, it's all added up to my sense of home not even being here on this earth: Heaven is where my heart is.
Heaven is where my heart is. Heaven is where my family is. Heaven is my home that I anticipate for while on this long road here on earth.
It's a privilege to me, though, to meet members of my heavenly family while here on Earth. That's part of why I can call Heaven "Home," because I have family there already, both related to me biologically as well as spiritually.
I guess I'm just reflecting on this as I pack up my things once again (I tend to do this a lot, I think I'm getting better at this--I hope! hehe) to go back to Calvin. I don't see it as moving away from home anymore, that ended a long time ago. I see it as my next "assignment" from my Father in Heaven.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me!
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny!
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from his hand!
Till He returns, or calls me home
Here in the love of Christ I stand!
["In Christ Alone" -final stanza]
Betsy
And one more thing. I can't help but wonder if this will all change again when I have a family & kids. But I suspect that it won't-- my kids may just end up inheriting my way of life! And I'd like them to learn the value of seeing Heaven as home first before our street address. ;)
Family of God (A hymn I learned as a child)
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God
You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!
Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God
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