We’re here. After a circuitous passage from my last place of service to this one, we are here. In situ, in loco, arrived and in. Loco is actually better than it sounds. There is plenty of loco in this place. Mainly us, we who have packed and loaded and unloaded and now are faced with piles of boxes and furniture that might or might not fit in our new abode. But various many legged creatures are also a bit loco as their whole world has changed rather radically in the past couple of days. Many legged includes not just cats and a three legged dog, but we seem to have brought a number of Indiana stink bugs into the Tennessee swelter.
Yes, we moved during a record heat spell in middle Tennessee. Nashville has recorded the most days in the 90's in the month of September ever. Most consecutive days in the 90's, hottest September on record, and today will be the hottest day in October on record. Welcome to Nashville. We were all dripping in sweat, we gave the moving crew bottles of Gatorade and Powerade, just to keep them alive. The air conditioning was off because of the constant in and out. A paltry breeze swept through every now and then and it felt like heaven.
“This is not our home.” That’s a phrase we hear within the faith from time to time. It is designed to remind us that we are pilgrim people on the way. That we shouldn’t be too satisfied with the way things are in this life, but be ready to move into God’s realm, God’s kingdom. “Heaven is my true home.” I agree with that perspective, to a point. Certainly this world and this life is not all that there is or all that we work and long for. We can’t be so complacent that we become those who say, “that’s just the way it is” with a shrug of the shoulders. We are the ones who are working for something more, something better, something more like the heaven we want to claim.
But heaven isn’t supposed to be an escape valve. It is supposed to be a model. The life we build in this place does matter. The work that we do here, on our home, in our community, in our world makes a difference. Didn’t you ever wonder why when the book of Revelation talks about the coming of the realm of God it always says “a new heaven and a new earth”? Take a look.
Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
So, I’m writing this. And believe that those words are trustworthy and true. But also eternal. This is a someday text that isn’t just about someday. It’s about every day. About a new home, and a new dwelling place and that God can and does come and take up residence in that home. And that there are tears to be wiped can not be denied. Our new home situation was frustrating and trying and anxiety producing, and I don’t think we are untypical. As we look for places to store our precious belonging, we are also looking for ways for the Spirit to breathe on us and through us in this new place.
I know, I know, Nashville Tennessee won’t be heaven. There will be mourning and crying and pain to come. The day we were finally in our phone rang with the news that our son Rhys had his car stolen overnight. Bad stuff continues to happen. But he will survive, we will survive, you will too. It might not seem like it at times, and it sure didn’t to us along the way of this journey. But here we are. And God is in the mix making all things new.
And you don’t have to move states and sell and buy a house to experience this new dwelling, this new heaven. It can be yours any time you reach out and invite the Spirit to take up residence with you. An air of peace, even in the midst of labor and upset, an air of peace can permeate this new heaven that you can claim, as we are claiming right now.
It is good to be home. In the loving embrace of our God.
Shalom,
Derek
No comments:
Post a Comment