Home

This Sunday morning, I met with a group of people. Within the group there was a question in which we conversed in, brewed over, and dug into. This question was, “Where is home?” This was essentially my response.

During the Zoom meeting

There are different facets of what can be determined to be home for each of us. For me there are three aspects of home which include, family and experiences that resonate with me based off my youth, cultural norms, and growth in faith and fun. Each of these have held a prominent theme in different seasons, locations, and groups of people who I have dwelled with over the years. If I may, let me start from square one and let’s reflect on the facet of my youth and family.

 

My mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, and other faithful family members give me a sense of home. What sticks to my heart is knowing that at anytime for any reason, for anything, they would do their best in order to help me in a time of need, and they have. Knowing that their houses, resources, money, welcoming, and embrace are ever present practically presents this sense of home and comfort. They have all held steadfast in embracing the sense of unconditional care. In fact, many to the moments of fracture and failure they have shown this care. Related to family, I have embraced the connections made within our experiences over the holidays; Christmas, 4^th of July, Thanksgiving, and yes even today Easter. Being abroad has left us with time apart. At times, I recount the times under the Christmas tree, and at the hotel for Thanksgiving. During these moments of meditation and reflection, I oftentimes wallow, waiting for God to pick me up. He faithfully listens and gently picks me up.

 

In aspects of culture, the deepest sense of home comes from the clarity of living Southwest Uganda. Clearness in terms of communication and relationship comfortability, mindfulness and meditation, and my general persona and character relevance. In the different areas and people groups I have been associated with (America, Uganda, Hawaii, South Korea); I have learned there are different primary topics of conversations based off of common greetings. For instance, in America we might say, “Nice weather we are having.” Here in Korea, “sik-ssa-hasyot-sso-yo?” Meaning, did you eat? In Uganda, “Abamuka bariiri bata?” Meaning, how are the people of your house. Along with this Ugandans have a common phrase, “Nobarakuryamusya.” Which means, sends greetings to those people. The aspects of the Ugandan culture that is revolving around interlocking and creating relationships is an aspect of home that has blossomed like a flower in me. 

While living in Kona Hawaii, I was able to participate with about 40 other volunteers in serving an international based school campus of about 500 students. The primary act of service? Washing dishes. Simple? Maybe. Necessary? Definitely. Sometimes our group could have been considered entertainers, but within our job description we were dish washers. Not all 40 of us, just 3 out of the 40. The sense of home that most resonates with me came from living on a compound with the other volunteers, having weekly worship and prayer, and driving around the Big Island of Hawaii with individuals who stirred in me to overflow with love and joy.

 

If you have come this far, I would like to thank you for tolerating my run on sentences, and would request that you bear with me for just one more paragraph.

Truth is, none of these locations, people, foods, cultural norms, holidays, or even the embrace of family will not be able to paint the full picture of home. Each example of what I gave above gives just a stroke of the brush. It enables me to reflect on truths beyond these composites of a sense of home. From the group that I met with we read John 14:1-14 towards the end of our time. Verses 1-4 is Jesus speaking with close companions who call Jesus, “Teacher.” These are the words. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.” There is a longing in all of our hearts to come to a complete sense of home. A place where we are in complete peace of knowing, and are completely known. A place where we are fully fulfilled, and deeply desired. Yeah that place... How do we uncover the place of home? Well home is not really found in a place at all, but in a person; Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. To me this is a comfort, that I do no longer have to live a struggle trying to cookie cut my way into the world trying to make home. The truth is in the relationship we have with Him. This relationship enables me to receive and live in truths of home, patiently waiting for the fullness. 

Jesus speaks to His disciples these words, he also speaks to me. He has already prepared it, and will bring me to the ultimate home with Him. Not only for me, but for all those who call on His name; Jesus.