"Nana, Papa, moose, Jojo, bear, grrrrrr, peep, mouse, Nana up, Mama, Dada, Mimi sleep, fish!" My 20 month old daughter has had a lot of change in her life, lately, and this is how she processes it. In a quiet moment playing on the floor, or while drifting off to sleep, she allows her mind to wander and her little mouth to practice all of the words she knows. It's a little window into that mind, and I treasure the peaceful way she sifts through her thoughts. I'll often hear words that were particularly meaningful that day, such as "bird!" if we spent time watching the birds outside, or "Bella, Bella, Bella, come!" if we played with our dog Bella right before bed.
Naomi isn't the only one with change in her life, and watching her has me wondering how I will process, sort through, contemplate, and settle all of the changes going on. Michael sent me pictures of the house today. It's nearly all packed up, I can't believe it! After 6 previous moves, a familiar feeling is creeping into my heart: a strange homelessness that plagues me surrounding the move. My old home is really no longer home, my new home isn't ready yet, and even when it is, it won't feel like home for awhile. My restless heart wants to settle. So, how do I settle when the only place to lay my head is on a pillow in my parent's guest bedroom?
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4, emphasis mine.
The Lord has given me two comforting reminders in these verses. The first is to set my mind on things that are above. In truth, I have no earthly home. I am an alien here, a sojourner passing through a land on her way to eternity. An eternity in Heaven, where all the delights of my earthly home are infinitely increased as I worship God Almighty. My home is with God. And as if through a dusty lens, He gives that to us here. It is but a shadow of our home to come, but here on earth, our home is Christ. And that brings me to number two. Christ is my life. Christ is my home. It is not a matter of the kitchen I cook in, the bed I sleep in, or the street I live on. My life is Christ. And praise Him! He never moves.
