John 14: 23
I took a brief vacation this week to a part of the country I call "home."
If you count the years in a place, then my home would be the suburban area I've lived in for more than 40 years. But if you consider your origin, then my childhood location is my home.
I lived for most of my first nine years in a part of the country that is unique in terrain, vegetation and vibe. My wife Sara and I enjoy visiting that general area whenever possible. This week, we took a couple of days to drive around a large territory to see spots we had never visited before.
For me, it always feels like home when I travel to this space. I have a few friends still living there. But it's the echoes of prior experiences, warm childhood memories, combined with the beauty and wonder of the present day, that cause me to feel home.
Another place where I've always felt at home is the church. My father was a pastor, and we always lived next to or close to the church he served. When I was a youngster, the church yard and building were my play place. Later, in high school, it was a place of escape and solace. I had access to the church. When I needed to get away, I would visit the sanctuary and play the piano. I would sit quietly, think, and pray. I might have even studied in the classrooms a bit.
The church is still home to me now, and it is still such an integral part of my feelings of place and location today. Not because of its sanctity, but because of warmth and echoes.
I wonder, as you're reading this - what place(s) would you call home? Truly home, where you feel warmth and echoes and memories and solid ground. (Please make a comment below!)
Jesus offers another such home, right here on earth. In my soon-to-be-released book, Live Like You're Loved, I talk about how Jesus defines the kingdom of heaven as being in our midst now (Luke 17: 20-21), and eternal life as knowing and connecting with God the Father and Jesus Christ (John 17: 3). Eternal life is something we can have today! While waiting to reach our forever home, we can be at home already in a relationship with God, stretching from the present across eternity, as shown in John 14: 23.
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
Yes, home is where the heart is. In our 7-day practical faith walk, let's give our hearts to God, and experience home right here, right now.
You can pre-order your copy of the Live Like You're Loved book at the Cecil Taylor Ministries store. Copies should be available for shipment in December.