For the first time in my life, I am learning what "home" really means. In the last 19 years, if you'd asked me where "home" was, I'd have said Lexington, Kentucky, without a second of hesitation. I'd lived in the same house on the same street in the same city forever. It was all that I'd ever known. But three months ago, I picked up my life and moved six hours away from that home. I missed my first home beyond belief—I still do. I miss the familiarity of living in my house, of sleeping in my bed. I miss the usual sights and streets of my city. I even miss knowing where to find stuff in the Walmart. But more so, I miss the people. I miss my parents and my little brother. I miss my home church familyso bad. I miss my high school friends. My heart is in Lexington.
But now it's been three months and I've realized: I have found a second home. I love Freed-Hardeman University. I love the friends I've made here. I love my roommate. I love my social club. I love my classes and my professors. I love going to chapel devos and singing with all of these special people. And now my heart belongs here too.
I cry every time I leave Lexington and yet I've realized, as Thanksgiving break arrives, that I will miss being at Freed too. Is it possible to have your heart so strongly torn between two places?
I think it is. Because I think that's what it's like to be a Christian.
For all of its trouble and problems, this world is a pretty decent place to live. I'd have to say it I like living here, and I'm guessing that you would too. There are a lot of great things to see and to do here. There are a lot of wonderful people here.
And yet, this world is not home. Heaven is home.
Freed-Hardeman is so very special because it's like a glimpse of Heaven. Our homecoming theme this year was, "Feels like home to me." Freed-Hardeman feels like home to me. But it feels like home because it feels like my heavenly home.
I am learning what home means. Home is about people and memories and love. Home is about reaching out and catching a moment of what it's like to be with the Father. But anything on this earth can only feel like home; it isn't really home. I will never truly understand home until we reach the home where God intended for us all to be.
I am so thankful for my new home at Freed-Hardeman University, for my old home in Kentucky, and for all of the homes I may come to love in the future. But I most grateful for the promise of the home beyond this life, the home where I want to be the most. Because that home won't just feel like home, it will be home.
Oh Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see. Oh Zion, Zion, when shall I dwell in thee?
