Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Being Home

Foxes have holes, and birds ofthe air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

Matthew 8:20

During the three years that I lived without a house to call my own I discovered that owning one’s house is a privilege, not a right. The majority of the world doesn’t own the walls that surround them. Frequently I would complain about my rental digs believing that I was rootless without a house to call my home or the “valuables” that, I believed, defined me.

Then we relocated and I was thrilled when we purchased a house. Those “valuables” however that I thought would make it a home remained in storage for another six months! While sitting on a folding chair eating Thanksgiving dinner at a makeshift plywood table my awareness of the significance of my situation dawned on me. My focus had been on not having a place to live rather than on how God wanted me to live. A few months later we moved again!

When the Jewish scribe pledges his loyalty to Jesus, Jesus is quick to tell him what he’ll do without. Basically, following Jesus means not worrying about where one is going to sleep at night. The animals have it cushier than the Jesus follower!

Living life with Jesus could mean giving up many of the things we hold “valuable." But, I have found that I am wealthier when I ask, “How do you want me to live” every time a “valuable” has been taken away.I presently live in a house, but, the reality is that wherever God takes me is where I call home.

Jesus, thank you for being patient with me
as you teach me the difficult lesson of learning how to live.
Amen.

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