Where’s Home?

I’ve been living overseas for more than 10 months now. When I say overseas, I mean far far away from anywhere I have ever lived before. Wellington, New Zealand is more than 8000 miles away from my previous residence, my home state, or Mom and Dad’s house. Time to time I experience that phenomena known as homesickness. It’s hard to guess the times I will experience it, but the best predictor is a significant event involving family or friends. My brother’s graduation from university, my close friend’s engagement, the Indy 500, a church anniversary, or singing a familiar song have all brought on feelings of a longing for home in the past year. All this begs the question: What is home? Some say “Home is where the heart is.” Webster says home is “the place where one’s domestic affections are centered.” Maya Angelou said, “You can never go home again, but the truth is you never leave home, so it’s all right.” All these voices attempt to place a finger on the pulse of what exactly home is, but each falls short when my heart aches for something greater.

Several months ago at The Street City Church, we sang a song called “The One Who Saves” by Hillsong. The chorus goes like this:

We have found our home
We have found our peace
We have found our rest
In the One who loves us

He will light the way
He will lead us home
As we offer all
To the One who saves us

At the time I was experiencing some of that desire to be back where things were more familiar, but the song broke through my distraction and reminded me of where home truly is. The New Testament is filled with references to heaven being the true home for those who are in Christ. The clearest passage comes from Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”. This verse gives me tremendous hope, a bit of discouragement, and a challenge at the same time. Hope because the longing in my heart isn’t for a geographic location, but for my true home and dwelling with Jesus – and because this longing will one day be fulfilled. Discouragement because as long as I stay here on earth, I will continue to experience a holy homesickness. A challenge because wherever I’m sent in the future, regardless of how familiar or comfortable it is, the longing to be at home with Jesus should continue.

It’s easy to forget where home is when we’re proud of our birthplace, surrounded by those that love and know us, or resting on our favorite couch. I’m thankful for this time in New Zealand to be reminded of my citizenship and where I truly belong.

Obligatory Post Apologizing for Not Blogging in Ages So I Can Start Blogging Again

Hey – I moved to New Zealand and started a new job. Give me a break.

The Young and Unemployed

I haven’t done any research into official statistics or caught a story on the news, but personal experience and the economic climate of the United States in general can support what I have been wrestling with this evening.

My generation, consisting mostly of people somewhere in their 20s, is increasingly becoming a generation of people who have experienced a job layoff in their young careers. I personally experienced this in 2008, being laid off from my very first post-college job on my one-year anniversary with the company. In the past year, I have seen at least three close friends experience the same fate with. What I have been wrestling with is this: How should the body of Christ, specifically leaders in the church, come alongside those in their 20s who have experienced a layoff?

A plethora of cliche’s are available to throw at the young and unemployed. “Good thing it happened while you’re young.” “There will be plenty of other opportunities for you.” “Yep, it’s a tough economy these days.” “Ever thought about going back to school?” Even the spiritual go-to, “God will provide something else”, is at one’s disposal.

For a twenty-something, none of these answers are particularly satisfying, though they may carry some truth. All offer the potential for some temporary comfort, which they did for me, but none generates a response than a “Yeah, you’re right” – lazy shoulder shrug combo.

If I had been more familiar with the story at the time, I would have done well to turn to 1 Kings 17. The Cliffnotes version of the story goes that God sends Elijah to camp by a river which eventually dries up. I suggest reading it for yourself, along with 1 Kings 18, but three key points can be taken from this story for any recently unemployed person:

1. Your job layoff does not mean that you have been disobedient. Sometimes following Jesus leads us to a river that eventually dries up.
2. Although there is a tendency to to worry about how we will pay bills, provide for our families, and continue to pursue our goals, it’s important to remember that God is our provider, not a job.
3. Just as the dried up river helped prepare Elijah for something bigger (hello, calling down fire from heaven), God wants to use your unemployment to prepare you for something greater. Maybe a more fulfilling job or a whole different career path, but something greater awaits if we seek the Lord’s direction during our time of waiting.

What are some other lessons or advice that we can give to the young and employed in our congregations? How can we come alongside and lead them through this difficult time in their early adulthood?