Spiritual Wellness

As a little girl, my dad wanted to make sure I knew how to find my way home. He used a playful game to help me learn.

He told me to imagine that I was lost in space and picked up by a kind alien who promised to take me home. If I were lost in space, what planet would we go to?  Earth.  The spacecraft narrows in on our galaxy and delves into the blue planet.  What country on earth?  USA.  What state?  California.  What county?  Orange County.  What city?  San Juan Capistrano.  The flying disc hovers over my hometown until we get to the exact address.  Oh, my clever dad!  Such a simple strategy to help me learn!

As an adult, finding my way home isn’t always so simple. I’ve lived in three states, and I have family in several parts of the country.  Is home where my parents live?  Where I live?  Where I have the best memories?  Home often feels like anywhere as long as I’m with my husband.   Yet, I can be in my physical home and still feel uneasy.  I can be with my parents or my husband, and still long for more.  There are times when everything is perfect in life, but I still desire a deeper connection to home.

Ultimately, the quest for home is a spiritual journey.   We are spiritually at home in our connection to God:

You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets.  And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Now, let’s try my dad’s game again and see if it works with helping us find our spiritual home. Imagine that you are lost in the spiritual world and you don’t know how to find your way home.  Fortunately, you are picked up by a kind angel who promises to take you home.  The angel asks you the pertinent questions, starting with the big picture, and carefully narrowing it down.

Which people group do you belong to?  God’s holy people.  That narrows it down.  Now, which establishment?  The one with a long history – beginning with the prophets and continuing with the apostles.  What is your God’s name?  Jesus Christ.  Where is His home?  His people collectively make up His home.  He lives in us by His Spirit.  Where is your home?  In my spirit.  It’s where God dwells within me.

The angel helps you find your way back to your own heart. Sure, it’s a bit more complex than finding your street address.  But, it’s much easier to get to.  Spiritually, you are always home.  You are always home with God.  He never leaves you and never abandons you.

Next time you long for home, recognize that you are really longing for your spiritual home.  Deep within you is the desire to be with God. In Isaiah 66:1-2, God says:

What sort of house could you build for me? . . . I made all this! I own all this!”
“But there is something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.

God’s home is within your heart.  He is speaking to you.  When we are spiritually home, we listen to God and respond to Him.

What is God saying to you today?

hearing God, home