No Place Like…

So nice of my friends to put out the welcome home sign. It’s not that Sue and I have forgotten, but the reminder is appreciated. Home! What a glorious word. To make the welcome home complete was the sound of coyotes chattering just before dawn yesterday. They were a bit out of tune, but, again, the effort was very nice. Thinking of home in the final days in Manzanita and even during the drive home, I was drawn back to the opening words of Psalm 90. Remember? “From generation to generation, God, you have been our home…” Home…not just dwelling place. Home is much greater than a place to sleep at night or a drop-in between work and pleasure. Home is where I find meaning in relationship. It’s the give-and-take of family life, hardships faced, successes celebrated, dreams born, values gained and developed. Dwelling place is lodging; home is heart. And for the spiritually minded, for Christ followers, home is much, much bigger than location. Wherever you are, at any time of night or day, you and I are at home in Christ Jesus, at home in God’s great heart. I appreciate the welcome home sign, and I will listen carefully for the sound of hiss or rattle, but I will listen with great joy for the greetings of friends…here at home.