Return

What defines humanity other than the persistent and undeniable sensation that where we are is not where we belong? For most of us, this sensation is little other than a nuisance that creeps in the dog door of the back entrance to our minds. For Jackie and me, though, flying back to England is as physical a manifestation of this restlessness of our souls as may be found. Not only do we wrestle daily with deeper spiritual longings, but also the distinct and occasionally putrid cognizance that we are not physically where we would call home.

My intent was not that this opening paragraph should descend into cynical diatribe. Far from it. In fact, quite the contrary. God has often blessed his people with physical images of spiritual realities; see the lives of Hosea and Ezekiel, for example. So, rather than being empty and pointless complaint, we have instead embraced this image as our new focus for our remaining time in the UK. We returned to the US more than moderately concerned and curious about what we would find waiting for us. Growing up (or coming of age) in Northern Virginia taught us both that places change; often rapidly. Jackie had not seen her parents in about a year and a half (and they had moved to West Palm Beach!). We had adjusted to an entirely different method, mode, manner, and pace of life. As Frodo says, how do you pick up the pieces of a past life when (to paraphrase) you are not living that life anymore?

Much as in the Shire, life continues as it ever does in the US. Driving on the right still feels right. Open spaces (even by East Coast standards) are preferable to the Elgarian landscapes in England. We have come to appreciate what we have in the US in a way that we could not have if we had stayed here. Freedom is a bigger thing than the narrow cubbyhole into which it has been shoved by our politicians. We have also come to realize that regardless of our parentage or upbringing, the South is where we belong.

Today we returned to the Old Country but, much as we were when we arrived in the US, we are not the same. Unlike when we left the first time, we know what we are looking forward to, and we know what we are leaving behind. We aren't looking with trepidation at a beginning, we are looking anxiously toward the end. We weren't sure of what our call would be, now we have a church home. Through it all, God has been faithful. It has taken 2000 miles to show us what really matters. May we have the grace to travel many more.