Bob Goff said, “We don’t come home to places; we just return to the people that we love” and I like that because that is what happened all weekend long.
I was reminded this weekend that if home is found right next to the people we care for, my home goes much further than my zip code.
As I leave Fort Worth, Texas and a weekend that filled up my heart, I’m kind of looking for the rewind button. How about I do the weekend over so I can hug people tighter and dive into people’s lives just a little deeper. Or how about I make the weekend just a smidge longer so my long distance friendships can be sitting in the chair next to me or showing up in just a few minutes.
We very rarely realize how beaten down we’ve been until we come away from the comforting smiles and refreshing conversations that make up friendships. But, this weekend, I got to open up the parts of me that has been taped shut by everyday clutter. I got to laugh at jokes that brought back memories and ones that created new memories. I got to celebrate big life events and revel in the small moments that nourish in big ways. I danced, stayed up too late, teared up, worshipped, and was really and truly thankful.
Maybe the goodbyes and this long distance thing will get easier, but probably not, and I’m okay with that because I’m pretty sure it’s worth it.
We’ve known all along that God created us to take part in deep, life-giving relationships. He even models for us the fact that our relationship with Him takes place in the farness of the galaxy, yet in the closeness of our hearts. And so what’s the big deal about living in different states or even different countries? He just advises us to not neglect to meet with each other, and I think the 2016 version of the bible would also say to not neglect to facetime or plan weekend trips.
So I’m going to make sure my phone is fully charged and I’ll start looking at airbnb’s STAT because these friendships are worth all my effort and probably my savings account too. Academic degrees and big girl jobs might have moved us around a little bit but God brought us together. He wants us to grow, celebrate, grieve, and stand with each other through the joys and even the yuck and we won’t let the long distance change that.
