Home is an interesting concept to think about, because it can mean so many different things. Dictionary.com gives 11 definitions for “home” as a noun. Here are a few of them:
- a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.
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the place in which one’s domestic affections are centered.
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any place of residence or refuge: a heavenly home.
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a person’s native place or own country.
Depending on which definition you go by, I could call a number of different places home. My physical home, at the moment, is in Alaska. I was born and raised in Minnesota, so that will always be home. The town my college was in and the camp that I worked at after my first year at college, despite only spending one summer there, are also places I consider home.
Almost exactly five years ago, I returned from a year living and studying in Pamplona, Spain. It felt strange coming back. I thought at first that I was just experiencing reverse culture shock, but the feeling did not go away. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I was homesick- something I had never felt before. Not when I went on my band trip in high school (my first trip abroad and away from family for more than a few days), not when I spent 3 weeks in Spain prior to my senior year in high school, not when I left for college freshman year, and not even when I arrived in Spain that year without knowing anyone.
In all honesty, not a day has passed since I returned that I have not wished I could be back. My roommate the very next year frequently asked me if I was thinking of Spain, and she was right every time. She said I had what she called my “Spain Look.” Half smiling because it was a good memory, half sad because I wasn’t there any more. That is exactly how it feels even to this day. If you believe in the saying, “home is where the heart is,” Spain is definitely my home- not only because of the place itself, but because of the people as well.
Throughout the 11 months on the Race, I will have 11 different homes. We will make connections to the people and places. I cried after a week of running day camps when we stayed in the town- I know there will be tears leaving each location on the Race.
However, regardless of where I am physically, I know that it is only my temporary home. It is like the old hymn says: “I am but a stranger here, Heaven is my home.” A couple of my favorite passages address this topic.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5
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, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 3:20-21
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
We have a promise that there is more than this. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your time on earth, but it is important to remember that our time is also limited, and we need to make the most of it. Not just by having fun, but by making sure others have the chance to know that there is more as well.
We will be serving people in many different ways throughout the Race, but it is also important for us to bear in mind that any physical acts of service come secondary to sharing the message of the cross with them. That is the primary reason we are there, and if we went and did all sorts of amazing things without proclaiming the name of Jesus, it would all be for naught.
My prayer, not only for my squad but for all others that are out now or will be launching at any time in the future, is that we will make an eternal difference through what we say and do, not just a temporary one.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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