Going Home: 5 July 2009

Dear Friends,

Our yard is abuzz with bird activity of late. The hummingbirds and orioles are still vying for a spot at the window-mounted hummingbird feeder nearly all day long, the deck rail is a favorite daily perch for various species of sparrows, the finch feeder is extremely popular, and for the first time ever a couple of immature cardinals have ventured out of the woods and are often showing up on our deck. Lately the Eastern bluebirds have returned after a few weeks absence adding some beautiful color to the yard. Apparently it’s time for their second nesting. The other night I noticed one pair favoring the birdhouse where the tree swallows nested in spring. The male bluebird disappeared inside the birdhouse and almost immediately a tree swallow showed up perhaps thinking the house was his. Such is not the case as for the past few days the bluebirds have claimed the house, probably to the dismay of the swallow that had designs on returning back home. Circumstances change.

Many years ago, after my first round of continued education beyond high school, I returned to live at home for a year having secured my first job in the area. It was the first of several similar eye-opening experiences on the effects of going back home. Even though I had been away at school for three years, living in a dorm, finding my identity as young adult and feeling oh so very independent, I was amazed (or was it shocked or disappointed?) at being treated as if I had never left: I was still the child. Not much had changed in my parent’s eyes yet I had changed and grown. That saying about never being able to go home again rang true. Yes, I was back home again, but life there was certainly not how I had hoped it would be. Instead of being seen as an adult, I was for all intents and purposes still very much their “little girl”. It appeared the circumstances changed, but only for me. It wasn’t until a year later, when I moved on to another job and another city that I was able to find myself anew and live my independence once again. There’s much value in being able to be who we are.

When Jesus returned home, he was rejected to so speak. At least his message was rejected with the words, “"Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" (Mark 6:2-3). Apparently in his home town he would always be known for who he was during his growing up years. But circumstances had changed. Even though the people of Nazareth appeared to lack the faith in order to truly see Jesus for who he had become – who he really was – he did not allow their “offense” to alter his image or his mission.

It’s probably a given that people from our past – family, friends, classmates – will in one way or another keep us confined in a “convenient” little box by viewing and treating us as we once were without taking into account our growth, change and development through the course of our years of lived experience. The good news is that we are all wonderfully and uniquely made in the image of our Sacred Creator, who is woven so lovingly into the tapestry of our being and who, if we have the courage and faith to listen and follow the Holy Whisperings, fashions us into becoming who we are intended to be.

Peace on the Journey