Before embarking on this incredible journey, this word had a completely different meaning to me. The dictionary defines “home” as the place where one lives permanently. When Jesus talks about the cost of following Him in Luke 9, He says, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” This is where I think that the dictionary got the word “home” correct. Jesus is conveying to us that on Earth, we will never have a place where we should live permanently. There is only one dictionary version of “home”. That is in Heaven, the only permanent place. Later on in that passage, Jesus explains, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” This comes across as alarming and unappealing. He wants us to abandon everything, but not just to leave it, do not even look back on it.
This is where Creed Bratton gives us great clarification in “The Office” Finale. He states, “no matter how you get there or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home”. Of course, that miraculous gift is a blessing from our Father. While He does tell us to abandon everything, He blesses us by allowing everywhere we go for Him to be our new home. Not a dictionary version of home, but rather a feeling of home. A place where one is at complete comfort, no matter where or who they are with. We just have to take that leap of faith with Him to find it.
While I am preparing to return to my original home in just under a month, I cannot help but look back on all the new ones I have made in these past 8 months.
- An unfinished YWAM base/log cabin in the jungle/beach of Costa Rica
- A Boys’ and Girls’ Club building in the mountains of Nicaragua
- A random pastors house in the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda
- A small apartment in the middle of Kathmandu, Nepal
- An even smaller apartment in the surrounding mountains of Kathmandu
- A slightly bigger apartment in a town of Negros, Philippines
- In the woods of a village in Negros, Philippines
Through this, I have covered all the places that I have lived and that have became homes to me on this race. The most important home that I made however is not a place. It is my church, the racers and leaders of Gap H. The epitome of the body of Christ. We became parents, siblings, friends, and encouragers through our walks with Christ to each other. How every congregation should function.
To me, this blessing that He gives us is absolutely remarkable. Abandoning everything and following Christ is a very intimidating process. When I did that 10 months ago, I had lived in 5 less countries and with 45 less people. It only took that much time to create a countless amount of new homes. Places and relationships that I never could have imagined that I would reach. Now I am in a position in which I have to depart the place I abandoned everything else for, and I do not want to leave. God is calling me to a different season of my life, and each time He does, it never gets any easier. I take peace in knowing that He will never abandon me and wherever He leads me will become my new temporary home.
“I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.”
– Andrew Bernard
once again, “The Office” finale
Praise: I was finally discharged from the hospital after having Typhoid Fever for almost 4 days. Thank you to everyone who kept me in their thoughts and prayers!!! It wasn’t that bad, the hospital had a/c and playoff basketball.
In Christs Love,
Zac
