Finding Home

Home again.  Home again.  Jiggety jig.

In the last three months, I have traveled more than I traveled in the four years prior.  My job at the time was important to me and I felt that there was a lot to undo and help rebuild and plenty to prove.  With kids at home and then college, money was tight, but we were resourceful and had more than we needed.  We were astoundingly rich in creative friends and ideas and goofiness.  Kansas, though not my state of origin, became "home."  

A few years ago when I sensed that life was heading for a turn and that God might be leading me away from the sweet familiar, I did what I am good at – I freaked out and tried to work harder and search more zealously and prayed…a lot.  My kids and pals were patient and encouraging with buckets of kindness and love and the occasional swift kick in the seat.  I sure do love those folks.  Saints really.  

My sister, Mimi, and my kids, and now aunties, cousins, & more in Atlanta, are the only "blood family" with whom I'm connected, but I have a huge family of friends all over the globe who I love and respect.  And tonight, I realized that God has done this odd thing that he promised when I first met him in Statesboro, Georgia, in …the 80s:

Isaiah 54:2-4
2“Enlarge your house; build an addition.  Spread out your home, and spare no expense!

3For you will soon be bursting at the seams.  Your descendants (family) will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.

4“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.  Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.

HOLY CATS!  It's true!  My home-the folks that breathe life into this living- cannot be contained by a residence.  This thing that I always craved – home and safety and belonging and value – has been met in the lives of two amazing Lousches, a collection of Moellers, and more "home bearers" than I'd have ever asked or imagined.  There is room for more!

I do miss my kids and Kansas family. I am grateful for the week in the Flint Hills and last weekend of Big Head Todd &  John Hiatt with the Jacobus-es.  I have no idea if I'll renew my Georgia drivers' license in a few years or move along in pursuit of God's next thing.  I only know that I am here-finding home in the shortcuts around the lake, the people of Adventures in Missions and Park Creek Court; and the scenic route that God seems to have me traveling.  

This dream (see Isaiah 54 above) of offering a safe place for go-ers to land after their dusty treks across the world, grows stronger.  Mi casa, su casa.  I hope to one day (soon?) have an open door and weekly connects where folks can talk, throw snowballs, watch movies, pray, do life, act goofy, play games, and snore on the couch.  They'll know where the extra pillows and blankets are and how to prep the coffee maker for the morning.  

Ultimately, my heart's hope is that folks will know that they are welcome.  They'll know we don't have all of the answers, but that we love the people that mosey through our door.  That we'll go nose-to-nose on occasion, but that we really love them.  That the vacuum cleaner is in the closet, extra TP is under the sink, and if you eat all of my dark chocolate chips…you better be experiencing a real emergency.  There will be love and scrabble enough to share.

So folks, join me as I find home – or at least the breadcrumbs leading towards home.  I need you and I'm lousy at asking for help.  Your prayers, your financial support, your company…I need you.

And I feel compelled to leave you with this last verse from Ezekiel 36 (right before the "Them Bones" chapter).  One late night a little over 10 years ago, after finding out that not only did I have Lymes Disease, a potentially lethal intolerance to medication, and a few other devastating realities, I crawled downstairs to my bible and begged God to show up.  I think he did.  Ezekiel 36 and the following verse became real to me that night:

Ezekiel 36:8 – 11
8“But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 
9For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 
10And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. 
11And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.  

Dark chocolate chips anyone?