This simple phrase, The Joy of Reunion, has been on my mind, sitting and brewing, since I began the race. It has been one of the main themes I’ve held to these past 10 months. As I’ve sat with this theme and mulled over it, I realized the joy of reunion encompasses a longing, I believe, to be inherent in every human.
But before I get to the end of this, we’ll start with the beginning. You see the Lord gave me, gives every Christian, the commission to go, like Abram, I too was told,
“Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1
In this World Race season, it has been 11 lands, 11 months, as a foreigner serving “the least of these” and ultimately serving Jesus. (Matthew 25:34-40) It’s been wonderful but with this adventure came the sacrifice of leaving my family, my home, my friends, my comfort.
When I first left, I missed everyone and everything terribly, so much so that for first two months I would dream quite often of the reunion waiting for me at the end. I dreamt of all my loved ones, friends and family at the airport, welcoming me back to America- my dreams felt like paradise!
Since I launched, I have spent countless moments remembering, cherishing, and missing so many. As I ventured from country to country, I also began to see that capacity of longing, of missing, and loving others expand in my heart.
Right now today, I miss people in Africa and in China and the Philippines, and India, and all over America, and well, you get the point!
Again, the joy of reunion resounded in my heart.
[ I do in fact have an awesome reunion to look forward to at the end of this month because on July 30th at 6pm I am flying back to L.A. and get to see so many of the people I have missed for months and months. I couldn't be more excited! ]
As I’ve dreamt, as I’ve missed and cried when at times, the longing for my loved ones felt almost unbearable- I realized that so much of this yearning really reflected the deepest desire of one’s heart: to know completion- to not miss or lack any one or anything- ultimately to know God who makes us whole, complete.
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling…” 2 Corinthians 5:1
The catch is God desires union with us, too.
So why the joy of reunion?
Of the many sorrows we all face in life, loss is inevitable.
But of the many joys singular for the Christian, the one that resonates so deeply in my heart, as it should all of ours, is our ultimate reunion with Christ in heaven and with our fellow brothers and sisters!
“And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life…”- Jesus, John 6:39
More than my loss of a home, our comfort, our nation, or even loved ones, I realized, (and forgive me if my theology seems a little off) that God has lost too.
Right now today, God has children he desires to bring under his Kingship and into his Kingdom. Have you ever heard of the prodigal son? Luke 15:11-32. But there are those who choose apart from Him.
STILL HE desires to be REUNITED with HIS CREATION, with you, with me!
As I’ve longed and missed and desired reunion- to experience and see and touch and hug the ones I love- my vision of eternity and God’s love for us has radically been rooted into my heart.
The hope for the Christian’s ultimate resting in Christ’s love and grand reunion with our brothers and sisters in heaven has filled me with a joy so immense, I can do nothing but SHARE the invitation to you to enter into God’s love as well.
So I’ll end with a story.
I spent this past December in China, I was literally in the middle of the country in below zero weather, without any communication home. It was pretty miserable. BUT while there my team and I met one English speaker we called, “Cloud” (we couldn’t pronounce her Chinese name.) She was the sweetest, most caring, hospitable young woman. We spent almost every day with her- sitting in her ballet classes, going out to dinner, shopping or meeting for coffee. During this time we were able to build a friendship and eventually shared the gospel of Jesus. When it was finally time to say goodbye, all of us parted Cloud with tears and a hope that she had received in her heart the good news of Jesus’ love for her.
As a parting gift, Cloud gave us personalized notes.
On one note, she said, in her broken English yet so appropriately written,
“I’ll see you again one day- at a beautiful one day.”
That is the JOY of reunion.
Union with God.
Reunion with each other.
Look at the cross of Jesus.
As one pillar wood faces upward towards the Father in heaven.
The other pillar with Christ’s hands stretching out over all humanity- to us.
To be with God and united with one another.
This is what we are designed for.
That is what we long for.
With Christ, it is possible.
