I was jogging the early morning streets of Porto, Portugal and stopping every 100 meters to take photos of doors and the city waking up. While jogging, I was thinking, “This is really what makes me come alive!” After a mile or so I became tired and turned around to head back to our Airbnb. Camille was probably getting worried because I was gone longer than usual on account of the stopping to take photos and take in views. I realized even with tired legs, I had a new energy as I thought of reaching my *temporary* home to see my family and eat breakfast.
It struck me that there are two seemly opposite journeys we take in life that bring energy and joy to us. One is the journey of discovery & wonder and the other is the journey toward home & comfort.
The journey of faith is a paradox of these two journeys. As we pursue God, we are pushed out of our comfort zones and into the unknown many times. It seems that God is always pushing us outside our comfortable self and into the areas where we are afraid to go. Yet as we pursue this life of faith, we find a home in Him.
There is an interesting chapter in John, where Jesus does and says a lot of wild stuff. He feeds the 5,000, He walks on water, he says only people who eat of Him, the bread of life, will have eternal life. For the disciples this must have been stretching, yet exhilarating as the Messiah was being revealed before their eyes.
At the end of the passage, many jews and disciples couldn’t handle the craziness and left. Perhaps, they had a home in their Judaism or culture and couldn’t handle the changes, yet the 12 chosen disciples stayed. When asked by Jesus if they would go as well (John 6:67), Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. (John 6:68-69). Peter found this paradox of uncomfortable, exhilarating yet comforting homey life following Jesus.
There is such comfort in knowing Father God and that our home is in His kingdom as adopted heirs! Like a good Father, he pushes us toward growth and what we need, mainly a life lived by faith in him and showing and telling others of his Kingdom.
At the time of this writing, we are in Seville, Spain and have traveled through parts of Northwestern Spain and continue on through Spain and Europe. We are enjoying this journey of discovery with God and our little family!
When we begin our journey back to our current home in South Carolina, I am sure we will find a renewed energy to take the long flight with 3 kids as we think of our physical house and comforts of a home country and family. Yet at the end of the day, our home country is the Kingdom of God and we can only find our sense of home in our Father God and our faith family.
