Friday, September 15, 2006

Reality....

Being a disciple of the Lord is awfully difficult. Even though this place is beautiful and has so much for us, we still miss home. We miss all of the wonderful friends and family that we are so very far from. We miss our beloved Idaho and the West. There is something about a Westerner that is unique in the world. I miss fishing, camping, BBQs, and beef. Yep, beef. There is very little beef here.

I miss the ease of close friendships. I miss the freedom a car gives.

I miss the smell of woodsmoke on a cool Fall camping trip. I miss the sound of a Western trout stream running by my tent.

I guess I miss...heaven. We all have a longing for home that is deeper than any place or time. We typically keep it buried very deep. It is times like tonight that I most acutely feel the longing for my true Home where there are no goodbyes, no tears, no separation. I can't wait to be united to the Lord and the rest of my loved ones in perfect unity forever and ever and ever and ever.......

I am missing home and Home tonight. I am wise enough to know that if I were in Idaho I probably would be too busy to call, or camp, or stop and listen. This longing for this idealized Home where all is peace, security, love, and warmth is lying heavy on my heart tonight. As is the desire to be in a place quite close to that in my estimation - our home in Idaho.

I thought that we might just be in Europe for an extended amount of time beyond school. If we are, I sure hope we get to come back to the US for a long stay. I need to put my feet back in American soil, especially the West.

So my prayer tonight is one for perseverance and courage. I ask the Lord to never let me forget and to someday return...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike,

I can well remember many times during our first few months in Japan missing close friends. You are in my prayers.

Brent said...

Skipping right past the eloquant, moving and deeply profound bits...

No beef?! Surely you can't be serious. At least there's steaks.. or hamburger... or at least some chunks of jerky???

I mean... there's such a thing as basic human rights!

Michael Lee said...

*sniff* I haven't even had a steak since I have been here! The only hamburger is a beef and pork mix! (Of course, I have yet been brave enough to enter the butcher shop...neven know what you might get..8^>)

Anonymous said...

http://www.allenbrothers.com/

Michael Lee said...

www.allenbrothers.com
MMMmmmmmm......BEEF!!!

I love beef....Maybe I'll order for my birthday. Four Ribeyes are only $140. They would be SOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!

Anonymous said...

Mike,
I think you hit on what Michael and I have been feeling. Even though we haven't left the good old US of A, North Dakota can feel as if it is another country. We know we are suppose to be here and things are going well but we miss Idaho and the Holy Apostles family we experienced. But really it is the missing of our Home with the Lord that we are experiencing in a greater intensity right now. As we have moved from one place to another there is always the longing to be Home and we sometimes think it is home with our earthly family, but really, your post made me realize again, how missing Home is always there and I can't wait that some day we will be with our Lord rejoicing and never saying goodbye again.

We enjoy reading your blog.

We keep you all in our prayers. How is Debbie feeling?