So as I pass through the middle of my race, the looming future of my return home comes to my mind in waves. I think of the moment that is only a few 4 ½ months away when I will return home. I think of the chipotle burrito that looms with anticipation of being engulfed, the bag of Halloween Tootsie Rolls that will not come soon enough, and the warm showers that I will stand in for 30 minutes. I think of the clothes that I haven’t seen in my closet for a year. And I think of the bed that sits waiting for me to jump into it and snuggle down for a long night sleep. I think of my mom’s cooking that will excite my long lost taste buds, and the coffee from my parent’s coffee shop that couldn’t be sweeter to my tongue. I think of the smell of summer in the air and even my stinky guiena pig’s cage. I think of the feeling of being around old and new friends and being reunited with many people I have missed.
But I think most of all of one moment.
August of 2011=started teaching, August of 2012= left on the world race, August of 2013= ??
A sweet homecoming!
I think of that moment when I get off my plane, head through the ups and downs of the airport, and then I step off the escalader and I see my Mom and Dad standing there waiting for me. I think of what they will do, or rather what I will do.
Will I run and scream?
Will I stand in shock?
Will I cry hysterically?
Will I jump for joy?
Will I melt into their long awaited arms?
Then I think…what will they do?
Will they run and scream?
Will they stand in shock?
Will they cry hysterically?
Will they jump for joy?
Will they melt into my long awaited arms?
I hope for all the best of that reunion and for moments like that to be taken with sincerity in my heart and joy in my spirit. But oh, I don’t know what will come of that blessed day. However, I do know that it is nothing compared to a similar story that we celebrate this month of March.
Easter comes at the end of this month. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But one aspect of the story that many of us look over is Jesus’ return to Heaven.
Let me back up and tell you more of this story. God sent his son, ONLY son, to earth through the Virgin Mary. Jesus lived and grew up on earth for 33 years. He did miraculous signs and amazing healings. Jesus left his Heavenly Father to live on earth to fulfill his purpose of dying on the cross for our sins, all of them, yours and mine. When the time came Jesus’ purpose was beginning to be fulfilled. In a turn of events, Judas betrayed Jesus, which led to Jesus being arrested, beaten, and hung on the cross. Mark 15:37-39 reads, “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last breath. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” Jesus fulfilled his purpose of dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins and he left everyone knowing and believing that he was the Son of God. After he took his last breath, he was removed from the cross and buried in a tomb. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven. Luke 24:46-49 reads, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnessed of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power on high.” Jesus rose from the dead to return back to Heaven to see his Father again. He returned from a long departure to find his home again in Heaven, where he is waiting for us to come one day.
Jesus had been away for a lot longer than 11 months, and I can only imagine what the reunited between Jesus and God, his Father, would have been like. If I can sit and think about my return to the parents I love after less than one year, I can just reveal at what happened when Jesus ran through the gates of Heaven to the waiting arms of God the Father.
The part that isn’t really talked about at Easter time is what it was like for Jesus to finally be reunited with His Father. But isn’t that the best part? Isn’t that the part filled with hope for the rest of us? Granted Jesus was returning to his home that he once lived in, to that bed of clouds that brought him comfort before he lived on earth, and to God’s arms that always brought love and kindness. We will also be going to Heaven, but it wont be a return to Heaven. When I walk through the gates of Heaven it will be my new home with the same Father. God will be awaiting my arrival with open arms, shouts of joy, loads of kisses, and showers of love! He will be awaiting OUR arrival home, each and every one of us, in that way, because he loves us so much and desires us to fill his love the day we enter our new home. God loved Jesus as his only son, but he also loved us so much to send his only son.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son so that whoever believes his him will have everlasting life.”
God has had our arrival to Heaven in mind this whole time. That is going to be one AMAZING homecoming! This will be like the arms of the Father in the parable of the Lost Son. God's warm embrace will be awaiting us!
I think about my homecoming to Colorado to the arms of my parents A LOT, but now I have an even sweeter image in my head of God’s arms waiting for me when I come home to everlasting life. So let me leave you at that. Think about such things.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Phil 4:8
To clear up any confusion:
I am not coming home early. I am still finishing the race out as long as the Lord will allow. 🙂 I am still $1000 away from being fully funded, and I know that God will provide all that I need. I am writing of the day I will return at the END of the race.
