We're not From Around Here

We’re Not From Around Here

The summer after my freshman year in College, I worked for a week as a teacher at church camp in Oklahoma. It was a different kind of place than I was used to and even boasted a ghost town close by with a population of seventeen people. One afternoon, I went on a store run with another woman from our group. The first sign of trouble came when we could not find road signs. We drove for miles, hoping we were on the right road. Before we found road signs, though, we found something else. Cows! About twenty or twenty five cows were relaxing in the roadway we were trying to cross.  They ignored our shouts and horn honks. Finally they decided on their own to move along. We drove on down the road for a minute, laughing at our adventure. Then the other lady suggested that we find a farmhouse and let someone know that the cows were out. Since we couldn't find any road sings I wasn't hopeful, but we did find a farmhouse. We knocked on the door and when the farmer answered, she explained to him that a quarter mile back we were trying to cross the road and the cows must have gotten out, and we felt that someone should know. He listened to the explanation and then asked, "Where're y'all from?" We told him we were both from West Texas. He smiled and told us they had open range. I asked the other lady as we drove off what open range meant. She said that the cows wandered and ate wherever they wanted and then were sorted out by the brands when it was time for market. We were glad to finally reach the town we were looking for and get back from our trek.

Sometimes things are hard to understand if you don't know the language or the customs. It can leave you feeling homesick. Sometimes we feel ill at ease in the world here. It is partly because we are not from around here. This is not our home. Advent reminds us that our  hope is a home in heaven because of what Jesus did . Many of my family and friends have gone ahead of me the last couple of years. I am reminded of the old song that says, 

This world is not my home. I'm just a-passing through. 
My treasure are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door 
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

The Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. (11:10) Others In John 14, Jesus is telling his disciples about his going to the father and preparing a place for them. He says, "in my father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place I will surely come again and receive you unto  myself. (John 14:2)
There is a beautiful description in John's vision  in Revelation.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

I admit that I long for that. Life is so hard here sometimes. I want to be where There is no night and the Lamb is the light. I want God to welcome me and wipe the tears from my eyes. Until that time, let us encourage our fellow travelers who are not from around here. 

Out of reach

Out of Reach

God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble. There for we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. The Lord almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalms 46:1-3

It is finally fall here in West Texas and it has come in with a vengeance. Lots of churches and organizations have had fall festivals or Trunk or Treats.  One that I saw recently had inflatable games and I did a double take going past one of them. Two people were inside of an inflatable boxing ring. They were wearing huge blow-up sumo wrestling costumes. It was hard enough to stand, much less fight. They would take a “running” start and crash into each other.  Usually one or both would fall after a rebounding bounce from the hit. The people watching were laughing and clapping. It was also quite a sight to watch them get up after they had fallen. The good thing is that it is almost impossible to get hurt in a game like this. It is also almost impossible to help someone up.  Basically, it is good for a laugh but not much else.

In life we have ways of keeping from getting hurt too, but they are not nearly as funny. My fall back (no pun intended) is that I will reject someone before they have a chance to reject me. I don’t get hurt much but I end up feeling lonely and not getting the help or encouragement that I need, or that I could give. I strenuously avoided forming new friendships after someone I love died. I also tend to bury any negative feelings or hurts, though I do this less often than I used to. When it comes to relating to God I think I am more comfortable following the rules that I am risking real relationship because it is somehow less scary than accepting love from a holy God that I might let down. No matter how far I get away from these two ways to insulate myself, in times of stress I find myself drawn back to them. I personally do not turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the edges of pain, but I know that many people do.  Ways that we isolate/ insulate are as numerous as the people who use them.

What can we do instead? First, let’s let God do the protecting. HE has said, that He is our shield and our very great reward.(Genesis 15:1) He also said in Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble. There for we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. The Lord almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.” Second when it comes to one another, Paul urges us to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Be brave with me this week and engage with your brothers and sisters. We might be bruised or even scarred, but we will come out stronger for God’s glory.