The article below from “Capable Life” in the United States, brought to mind the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” “Home is where the heart is.” has a long history and has been attributed to Pliny the Elder from Roman times in the early first century A.D.
The longing for a safe home reminded me of the aspirations of slaves in the Southern States
of America who experienced a long history of injustice. Slavery was in place from the early 16 hundreds through to its abolition in 1865. The hope of slaves was expressed clearly in a particular Negro Spiritual. The lyrics “I gotta home in gloryland that outshines the sun, … way beyond the blue. Do Lord O do Lord O do remember me.” Their Christian faith in a loving God who would welcome them into heaven when life on earth had ceased, helped make the present possible because, for slaves, a real home was a safe place where they were loved and cared for.
Below is the afore mentioned article.
“What comes to mind for you when you hear the word ‘home’? Home is where you permanently live — or so it is according to Merriam-Webster. But to many of us, home is the place you can be completely yourself. It can be found in a person, a building that represents a community, or even a quiet place all of your own. It’s where you sigh with relief after a long day.
Was Jesus at home on earth? He was born into a world that He made, but “the world did not know Him,” and “His own people did not receive Him.” Before He was even born, a cruel king set out to murder Him, and not long after His birth, Jesus and His parents became fugitives and took up residence in a foreign land. At 30, He intentionally began a nomadic life of traveling and teaching, and within a short time, He acquired enemies in high places. He had good friends and bad, but even the good— His closest — scattered when the danger became too great. It begs the question, what did Jesus’ home look like here on earth?
Time and again, we see Jesus communing with his Father. At least nine times, scripture records Jesus retreating from the crowds and His friends to connect with God, the Father. I believe this was home to Jesus — the presence of and communion with His Father. Jesus took home with Him everywhere He ventured. It is the safest home imaginable. It is never at risk of being lost, only forgotten. Of course, Jesus never forgot it.”
I believe many of us would have nodded when we read, “… home is the place you can be completely yourself” in the first paragraph of the article. It also raises the question “Am I comfortable in God’s presence?” Oops! Let us remember we are God’s children and have been assured of God’s undying love for eternity. Like children we can “misbehave”. Confession and genuine apology does restore the relationship. Our model is Jesus. He went aside from the pressures around him to communicate with his Father. May we do so too.