Home. It's such a nice word isn't it?
In my Facebook status today, I wrote, "After a draining day, it's nice to come home to a happy dog and leftovers from The Cheesecake Factory (baja chicken tacos--mmm)." :)
One of my friends then asked me about work and why it's stressful lately. Although work is admittedly a stressor (employed or not, most of America would agree with that point), my original post was more focused on the feeling of home. After I answered her question (as much as I can in a public forum!), my reply focused on that feeling. I wrote, "I absolutely LOVE the sigh of relief in my heart when I open the door to my home and feel like I can breathe again. A girl with good taste in shoes and sparkles said it well, 'There's no place like home...'"
I don't know about you, but I've had the feeling of home when I'm not actually at my house. I've had it when chatting with great friends who just "get" me (and hopefully vice versa)--you know, the people you can laugh and cry with (but mostly laugh like crazy). I've felt at home when I've walked on the campus of a university. I've even felt the feeling of home at work before. I've definitely felt at home during moments of worship at church. I've felt home when walking down a quiet tree-lined road while it's snowing. And I've definitely had the feeling of home on a sunny beach. :)
Have you ever thought about being "home" to God?
That may sound like a totally weird question. But in today's passage, Moses described a group of people (the tribe of Benjamin) in similar terms. Check it out:
Benjamin:
"God's beloved;
God's permanent residence.
Encircled by God all day long,
within whom God is at home."
Wow! Wouldn't you like to be described that way? That sounds pretty amazing to me. I don't know what it was exactly about the tribe of Benjamin that made God feel like they were His home, but I do have some guesses, based mainly on qualities that make me feel at home with people.
I would guess that first, the people wanted Him to be with them (which sounds really basic, but the feeling of home comes only when someone feels welcome). They trusted Him. They talked with Him in a way that was honest. They listened. They LOVED God. They knew Him well enough to know His heart.
I don't think God would just make His home in a group of people thousands of years ago and stop wanting to do so again. If we want God to feel at home in us, maybe we should try to live some of the things listed above. What are other ways we can make God feel at home in us?
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