This is home

Thought One: I never knew how unsettling it was to be without home until I experienced it. Don't get me wrong, I spent the better part of three months with an amazing family who opened THEIR home up to me, loved me, and took care of me...but it wasn't my home. It left me feeling restless, like I didn't really belong. When I finally was able to make the move into my house, it all changed. I have a place and space that truly is my home. It took an unnamed, often unidentified burden out of my life and has allowed me to feel like the Hinsdale area is not only the place I work, but also the place I can call "home." (I am a MI loyalist, so I say home with the understanding that I still will answer anyone's questions with "I'm from Grandville, MI but I live in Downers Grove IL.)

Thought Two: I was in a meeting yesterday in which people were talking about what it looks like to identify the true need. Example: feeling lonely? The true need isn't activity, food, or whatever we choose to fill the lonliness. The true need is relationship. As the leader was going through all these examples, my rooommate and I kept saying "wrong" "wrong" "wrong." Feeling lonely? True need IS relationship--with Christ. Feeling sad? True need IS happiness--from Christ. Feeling neglected? True need IS assurement--from Christ. It was sad to sit and realize how many people are looking for something and won't find it because they're looking in the wrong places.

Which brings me back to my "homelessness." Did I really need a home to feel at home in IL? No, what I needed was to rest in the assurrance that I was living and working in the place that God had for me and that he would meet my every need. Will I ever be at home and feel fully complete...not until the day I'm back home with my heavenly father.

So, for now, THIS is home...

Grace and Growth

One major aspect of my ministry with WyldLife is walking with the juniors and seniors in high school who serve as WL leaders. We meet every Monday night--club one week, leadership the next, etc. Last night I was intrigued by the conversation following this question: "If God knows everything, then why did he ask Adam 'where are you?' after Adam and Eve sinned?"

In my mind, I jump right to relationship. God, the creator of Adam and Eve, the God who breathed life into Adam's lungs, who walked with him in the garden, comes to Adam with this question because he STILL desire relationship even if its perfection is forever shattered.

Common response from the high school students: To make Adam feel guilty. God, the judge, wants Adam to wallow in shame over his mistake...not far from how I viewed God when I was in high school--if I do this or go to that or say this then I'm good. As long as I'm not doing _______.

Thank God for grace and growth and I pray that throughout this year I will see shifting images of God in the minds of my high school leaders--the true balance of both grace and truth that God reveals throughout scripture.