I’ll be home for Christmas… but just where is my home? If I am honest with you, the last several weeks have not been awash with seasonal joy or holiday cheer. The Christmas songs wafting in the air have peaked my interest now and again. Serving the community through an excellent outreach program made me “feel” well used for the Lord. Yes, I do fall back to the position of acknowledging Jesus as central to Christmas. I do… but at times the humanity that I am trapped in demands more attention than is healthy. I hope you understand that last statement. (Matthew 26:40-41)
I have struggled with direction, belonging, fitting in, and the stresses that follow less than desirable circumstances. Then, this morning at church… Pastor Jordan Easley preached a slightly different Christmas message about what Jesus came to earth to do and how He did it. I really needed the reminder. As simple as it might seem for some to grasp those realities, if we are not very careful… any of us can be sidetracked by the circumstances of life. Yes, you can too. Next year you may be the one writing about these struggles. Jordan, thanks for talking about the old standard song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and reminding us of how and why it was written. The song was written from the perspective of a WWII soldier who was away at Christmas. There are times in life when any of us who serve in the army of the Lord can become weary and simply long to go home to be with those we love. Oh, and if you are a believer… you are in that army too.
The truth is that for the redeemed, the believers in Christ, we are all gypsies wandering through this life… on our way to our real home. This real home is the place where Jesus is, not that temporary piece of property that you have a deed to. This Christmas season, I am longing for my real home, but I know that I have miles to go before I sleep. I pray the Lord of Hosts will calm my heart and quieten my soul until that Great Day comes.
