Thank you Jesus for six weeks with my family in Maryland over Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a precious and beautiful gift. I cherish every moment!
It was difficult saying goodbye's to all of my family in America; not knowing when we'll see them again and knowing so much of their and our lives go by without each other. In the week of our return back to New Zealand Andrew and I watched The Hobbit together. There were a number of things that stood out and touched me.
The show starts with a simple, selfish little hobbit; Bilbo Baggins. Gandolf however, has decided this little fellow is the perfect one for the job he has in mind. He invites the hobbit on a dangerous adventure. The rest of the crew is made up of warriors and heroes who have accomplished impossible feats. Some of the others doubt Biblo is made of the right stuff, Bilbo has doubts himself at times. Gandolf never wavers in his confidence and love for Bilbo, he knows without a shadow of a doubt Bilbo is the one for the job and he can and will accomplish it. The journey twists and turns and together the tribe overcome impossible odds.
After being separated from the group and almost deserting Bilbo comes back and finds a few of his fellow comrades talking about him. He then enters into the dialogue with simple and beautiful words that pierced me. “I do, I miss my home. I miss my chair, my garden, my fireplace... That's where I belong. ..That's why I'm here. You don't have one. It was taken from you. And I'll help you win it back if I can.”
In a way, this is every Christian's story. If we know the love of God and have found home in his embrace we can never be really content elsewhere. Here on earth, we don't get a permanent home but we get to help people to find home, to belong, to take back what the enemy has stolen from them – an identity, a belonging, a home.
I've had the privilege of enjoying a wonderful family here on earth. I know what it feels like to be perfectly at ease, to be loved, accepted, cherished and celebrated. I know what it feels like to be surrounded by brothers and sisters who love me and whom I adore. I don't need to impress or perform, I can just be. I don't need to say the right thing or figure out what's appropriate or appreciated. It's home, it's family. You can do no wrong.
I do. I miss my home. I miss my family. I miss that taste of heaven I was given at Christmas time. But that's why I'm here. I'm on the adventure Abba's invited me on because so many people have never tasted of real family or genuine love and belonging. I have. I've tasted in my biological family of the love Jesus says believers are to be known by. We can't give what we haven't first received. We first have to receive God's love and grace and experience his inexpressible uncontainable inexhaustible love. Family is a rare, marvellous and sadly scarce concept in 2019.
The Hobbit inspired me to see some of the bigger picture of what God is doing. I've written at the top of my planner: Win back “home” for others! Introduce people to the LOVE of family. You are the one for the job!
To be honest I wasn't impressed with Bilbo at the start of the show. But I can sure relate to him! I love that Gandalf had more confidence and assurance in Bilbo than his actions or words merited. It reminds me of how God sees us. Only He knows what He's made us capable of and if we listen to his words and accept His invitations the possibilities are limitless.
I don't know why God asked a funny little person like me to up and leave all I hold dear to be married to an incredible husband from New Zealand and live so far away from so many that my heart loves for who knows how long. Sometimes it makes more sense to me to live over there and sow into the many and valuable relationships there that are already in existence. Of course, now that I've lived here for more than eight years my heart would ache no matter where we set up tent. But I do know that if I channel the missing and the love into praying for those who've never tasted it; to those lonely, suffering and alone. Then certainly they're put to much better use than feeling sorry for myself. And knowing a touch of the God I serve He can take these meagre prayers and He can do more than I could ask, think or imagine to accomplish His good and perfect purposes.
Bilbo was in the company of ruffians and warriors. They knew how to fight and how to fend for themselves but they'd lost touch with home, family and how to live in times of peace. They'd been wandering for so long they forgot how to be cared for. Bilbo had this one simple thing to offer. He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't bloodthirsty. But he knew how to belong. How to depend on others. He knew how to stand by those he grew to love. This bonded all of them to him.
Lord Jesus, you made us for home. You made us to belong. To be a part of a big beautiful marvellous family. You created us to give and receive your love and to taste of that love in our relationships with one another. It's an incredible plan Jesus. Recreate your love here in us your people. Invite more people in. Surround those alone and in the dark with the warmth and light of your presence and your people. May we taste and see your goodness.
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