When we last posted, we were fresh with a move for my mother. Now we are fresh with the realization that my Mother’s earthly journey is complete! The days following have been ones of grieving the loss and celebrating her Arrival! I remembered and shared at her service where we sang the words together, Oh that will be glory for me when by His grace I shall look on His face...” that she had asked me if I thought it was sacrilegious to say “Whoopee!” “No, not at all I told her,” to which she replied, “Well then, you tell them I said that!"

Earlier we had been with our son and family in Israel and our grandson sat beside the grave at the Garden Tomb. Overhead nearby on the door the sign reads He is not here! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! How great is our Hope because of what was accomplished on the cross!

Check out the pages (top right side) for more details.

Little did we know when we posted a month ago, how much we would be looking at "Home" though the eyes of my Mother. Yesterday, she left her apartment in Lancaster County under the power not of big black iron wheels of an Amish carriage powered by the draw of a horse, but by the power of other wheels, black, but not so big, of her wheel chair. In a moment, just one moment, she left one home and was escorted upstairs to a new one where she will receive necessary care. The old apartment was now messy from the uprooting and packing of the days before. The new one awaited with most of her favorite things in place, neat and in order and lovely. But soon I suspect, she will be moving again - this time for her real Home. She is looking forward to that day and asked me if it was sacrilegious to say, "Whopppie!!" at the thought. No, not at all!

Keith had shared with her on Sunday the gist of the sermons he had the privilege of sharing at Westminster these last two weeks (www.westpca.com). As a visual aid, he had drawn a pair of eye glasses with the bottom half darkened; the kind used in therapy at times with autistic children, forcing them to look up and out and around, rather than just down. Likewise my Mother appreciated the reminder of our focus on the unseen reality, living today with an eye on Eternity. Paired contrasting words in the text (2 Cor. 4: 16-18) - inward/outward; wasting away/renewed; slight - encourage us not to lose heart!

momentary/heavy eternal; seen/unseen! To "fix" is to see with concentrated attention! So we fix our eyes on Jesus as we wait with her to be with Jesus - at just the right time!

Our March trip to the Philippines will now probably be our fall trip to the Philippines! In the meantime we have much work at hand with Barnabas and are scheduled to be teaching the final class on the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course in Florida in April, challenging the attendees to "broaden their perspective and to understand the teamwork that is necessary for us to do the work God has called us to do well." We did make it to Israel for a delightful time together with Jonathan and Jennifer and three of our grandchildren. More to come on that....

"Wandering Home"

There is such a place as “home!” We long for it and are heading there by grace! We are increasingly coming to believe and accept that this world is not home. In fact, all the transitions and changes in this world and in our bodies help us slowly “get that!” Yet “home” truly is the last word in this title phrase and in our lives.

The first word “wandering” draws attention to the way we get home. It is not by a straight and rapid road. It is not a smooth road paved only with pleasure and happiness. The word “wander” has plenty of room for roam;

~for my doubts concerning my Shepherd/Leader and His ways, mixed with murmuring,

~for my propensity to prefer my paths, with my faithlessness demonstrated at many a turn.

The word “wandering” magnifies the truth of my sin and His grace. It makes it clear that I am not going the quickest and most direct path but I will arrive, we will arrive, for one and only one reason . . . Him and His grace!

We’re eager to share both where He takes us at this stage of our lives and some of our thoughts about His grace for the journey, and thoughts of home as we wander there under the wise and sometimes confusing leading and direction of our Shepherd. That which fills us with holy delight, is that our wandering in some strange and glorious “God-way,” becomes part of His appointed way to take us home!

This will be a place for you to come monthly and read and see something of our wandering home. Bonnie and I plan to alternate writing a reflective piece each month and there will be a few images by my favorite photographer.

Our reason for doing this is to stay meaningfully connected to you who have journeyed with us already and we hope you will share with us ways we can pray and support you as you pray for and support us.

Our blog begins in the first month of this New Year, 2011 and will continue in February. Hope you will come see us again as we all journey through this life.