Yesterday’s Parade Magazine (November 6, 2011) had an interview with General Colin Powell in which he shared the following story:
“I heard about a young boy, an army brat. His family moved to a new community, and when he showed up at his new school, the teacher introduced him by saying, ‘It must be hard finding a new home every couple of years.’ He answered, ‘No ma’am. We always have a home; we’re just looking for a house to put it in.’”
This young boy understood real home. It’s not a physical place. It’s a spiritual state of Mind, and it travels with us wherever we go. We never leave it behind, it’s never taken from us, we never lose it, and we never have to hunt for a new one. It’s the presence of God always available to be felt and known. What a precious treasure to understand this reality….
What a lovely story – the home in a house!
And isn’t our home in Love already paid for – by gratitude. And didn’t global credit systems prove highly questionable? Not easy now to learn and turn but beneficial. “Fear not…” Isaiah 43, 1-2.
How delightful to be able to read this to our 12-year-old, who is still stretching mightily to really feel at home overseas. And a great comfort to his parents, too, who are learning that home includes peace and quiet — in the heart — not in a physical location.
As I am transitioning from one abode to another in less than a month, this is a lovely reminder of what I have always been taught and know – home is always with us! Thanks Evan!
My mother-in-law, married to a career Air Force officer, always reminded her children as they were moving yet again, that home stands for “Harmony Of Mind Expressed”. That enabled the family to take their sense of home with them, no matter what their posting. Thanks for reminding me of that today!
My dad was a career Marine and we moved more than 30 times. Because my mom found Christian Science when I was only three, my sister, brother, and I always went to Sunday School and Mom to church in every place we found ourselves. We always had instant friendships and always found a suitable home at every duty station. We always knew God would take us to our right place. Thank goodness we were raised in Christian Science!
Thank you. One of our sons was more than an hour late tonight, which was very unusual, and I could not reach him on his cell. I started to get worried and sensed I had to pray to quiet this sense of fear. After a few minutes I turned to your blog and your post gave me an immediate sense of the fact that our son was already at home, could not have left the security of Love, his true home. Two minutes later I got a SMS from him. Thank you for your inspiration and willingness to share it.