HOME…

Though experiences vary, home should be…

Where we lie down and rise again.

Where we enter freely.

Where we know and are known.

Where we grow and from where we go.

Where we are nurtured and corrected.

Where we learn and mature.

Where we dine and recline.

Where we serve and honor.

Where we are received and celebrated.

Where shoes and masks come off.

Where respect and standards are established.

Where we laugh and cry.

Where dreams are dreamed.

Where your story begins and ends.

Where comfort and peace find you.

 

Where we love and are loved.

Where we belong.

 

But HOME is not a place. HOME is a PERSON.

 

The history of our faith, the legacy through the generations, the saints through the ages, echo this truth.

HOME was found on the backside of the wilderness.

HOME was found in the mouth of a cave.

HOME was found in the middle of a field.

HOME was found in the palace of pagans.

HOME was found by a river.

HOME was found in a boat on the shore.

HOME was found in a corrupt occupation.

HOME was found on a road toward violence.

 

HOME was in the court of a tyrant.

HOME was in the death threats of a Queen.

HOME was in the valley of the shadow of death.

HOME was in the fiery furnace.

HOME was in the den of lions.

HOME was in the guillotine.

HOME was in the upside down cross.

HOME was in the prison.

 

HOME is not a place. HOME is not a set of circumstances. HOME is not a door, walls, a bed and a blanket.

HOME is a Person.

 

Despite this world…

In the midst of plague and pestilence…

Surrounded by illegitimacy…

In the throes of discomfort…

In the dregs of misfortune…

 

HOME is not an assignment, a job, a  particular city, or local organization. The will of God is not so much a “where”, nor the plans of God so much a “what”…

 

The will of God…

The plans of God…

Are WHO.

 

Life is not about where you live or where you go.

 

You have one residence of note.

One true HOME.

 

HIM.

 

Wherever you are. Whatever you are doing. HOME is there.

Father, our HOME is YOU.

YOU are our HOME.

YOU are our true NORTH.

YOU are where we belong.

YOU are where we lie down and rise again.

YOU are where we enter freely.

YOU are where we know and are known.

YOU are where we we grow, and from where we go.

YOU are where we are nurtured, and corrected.

YOU are where we learn and mature.

YOU are where we dine and recline.

YOU are where we serve and honor.

YOU are where we are received and celebrated.

YOU are where shoes and masks come off.

YOU are where respect and standards are established.

YOU are where we laugh and cry.

YOU are where dreams are dreamed.

YOU are where your story begins and ends.

YOU are where comfort and peace are found.

YOU are where we love and are loved.

 

To the weary

To the wanderer

To the restless

To the anxious

To the fearful

To the confused

To the sorrowful

To the angry

To the lonely

To the mistreated

To the ostracized

To the distressed

To the confused

To the disappointed

 

There’s no place like HOME.

 

To the achiever

To the climber

To the successful

To the dreamer

To the talented

To the skilled

To the confident

To the celebrated

To the affluent

To the go-getter

To the driven

To the ambitious

 

HOME is where the heart is.

 

Come one and come all.

The door is open.

The fire is warm.

The feast is plentiful.

The peace is palpable.

The laughter is contagious.

The tears are wiped away.

The pain is healed.

The heart is fulfilled.

 

Welcome HOME.