We used to go visit my cousin in Chicago. I thought my cousin Josh was super cool, and I
still do. I have so many fond memories
of him. We spent hours together playing
sports, video games, or hanging with our families.
We were there for one Fourth of July. We headed to the park to watch the fireworks. The wind was pretty terrible that day, and it
blew firework pieces on us. I remember
feeling the burn of the fireworks. I was
not thrilled with this. I looked at my
aunt and told her how I felt, but she kind of passed on it. I was like, “Hey, I am getting burned here.”
Ok, I never said it out loud. My polite
boy side would not allow that. That was
one of the few times at their house I could have run for home.
Home is different for each of us. There are so many things that help us feel
comfortable and at home. Some of those
things are found in our family homes, in our church, or in some other thing
that brings us comfort.
What is home? Is it
true that “Home is where the heart is?” In
a week where we reflect upon our country and everything God has given us, what
makes us feel at home? What would be the
one thing, if it were missing, just would not be right?
When my mom married my step-dad, Rod, she married a younger
man. Shhh, don’t mention that I said
that. It’s because she is so young at
heart, that’s why! (Love you, Mom). Regardless, as a result, I got a lot of cousins
that were younger--a lot younger. I was fifteen
years older than Austin.
So I was this high schooler who loved to
play with my little cousins, but didn’t think I had made such an impression on Austin. Every year my brother and I would take our
summer money and put on a fireworks show for our family. It was a blast--some of the greatest memories
of my life! I didn’t know what an impact
that had on Austin.
I moved on to college and was gone a lot, but managed to be home
for most 4th of July holidays, so once again, my brother and I put
on a great fireworks display. When I was at the seminary my Grandma told me
that every year Austin
was sad if I was not there to do the fireworks. Who knew that kid’s feeling of
home was our fireworks show! Weird, I
thought. How did that event become
something he found so necessary? But as I
thought about it, we created a lasting tradition that he counted on and
enjoyed.
Jairus, in the Gospel reading from Mark for this Sunday, was
a powerful man. He probably had control
over a lot of things in his life. But
one thing he didn’t have control over was the life and death of his daughter. When his daughter died, his world and his home
were rocked! He was in shambles, and he
ran to Jesus for help.
What is your home? Do
you feel peace this Independence Day, or is your home in shambles? What does Jesus want for your home?
This week at Mt.
Calvary we will talk
about home. A reading from the Old
Testament will help us really understand home and what Jesus wants for us.
God’s Peace
1 comment:
My home is with my wife, with the people I love. I never grew attached much to places, but to relationships. I get pretty bored when I am by myself. But, as a friend recently reminded me we are never alone. We always have Jesus. When we are with Him, we are always home. Granted, while we are physically apart from Him in this world, we are only in a temporary home. He is there with us, but the distractions from this world cause us to lose focus and to get lonely. In our true, eternal home we will never depart from His presence. I look forward to that day: the day of my true homecoming.
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