Homeland

Twenty years ago this week the Farmer and I sat in a closing attorney's office signing on the dotted line for what we thought then was our "dreamland." 

This is one of my favorite pictures taken by a friend our first year there. It always reminded me of C.S. Lewis's Shadowlands.

When we were seventeen, before, when he used to dream of being a farmer, the two of us sitting on the beach together watching the people stroll up and down along the incoming tide, locked pinkies and promised each other we would not get "old" like those poor folks. We would remain forever seventeen. So much for that dream.

We dreamed about our farm. 

That dream too when finally realized was not what we expected. Rarely with God is it ever.

The interesting thing about this picture is that it is not actually of our farm, but rather the view from our farm. 

Today the picture is a constant reminder that this farm and this world are not our homeland. We are looking beyond this world to the world to come where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in all of His glory. When He will come one day and make all things new, including us, and wipe away every tear. 

A new heaven and a new earth.

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having received them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." ( Hebrews 11:13-15 ) 

I'm not so sure I could have explained this to my younger self and convinced her to believe it. I think it's something you have to live.

💜