Having just gone through the process of buying a house I realize what realtors are trying to sell us these days is not so much a house but a home. In fact what we actually buy is a house – walls and ceilings, rooms and backyards. We sign a ton of paper and promise hundreds of payments for a house. Homes are more than the house we buy for a home contains our life and our memories - our children’s birthday parties on the patios, growth chart on the broom closet door, the room we gave up when grandma came to live with us, the dent in the ceiling from the first champagne cork. Some homes are where our pictures are and the chair we have carried with us from house to house.
I have been thinking of a home I have yet to visit – where little Lucas Reisig will find a big brother and sister, his grandmother Bonnie waiting; Mom and Dad, Michelle and Bob have created a place in that home as well as their hearts for his arrival. What a homecoming Lucas will have perhaps even today!
Today Tom and I are also working at creating a home – boxes to unpack or tuck out of sight, dusting and cleaning; a lawn to mow and cookies to bake! We are delighted to be settling in to a new home where memories are yet to be made – as we are settling in our new church home as well. The ongoing blessing of our home will be when our friends gather, when meetings happen and prayer is shared in our house.
It takes time and presence to make a house a home – it takes time and presence to make a church a home as well. We come to a house of worship – over time it becomes for us a home of faith. The “home” on Fairwood Boulevard is a place we make memories in and grow up in its rooms. When I met Lucas this week that was in my heart – that he has two homes – one of them here in this place of worship. He will grow up as some of you did knowing there is a place where families gather and memories are made. As Bob swaddled him and rocked him I thought of all the things Lucas can experience here – love of nursery attendants, singing in Joy Choir, learning to be an acolyte, Sunday School and youth groups. His faith home will be decorated with experiences of love and grace here at Fairwood Community United Methodist Church.
It is home I have thought of when I pray for Japan. Not just houses were lost but homes and neighborhoods. Home is about the people in communities. With pain the woman said while her house was spared her neighbor was lost in the tsunami. Homes and lives will somehow be rebuilt but it will take time – and a generous world community – and many many prayers.
So today welcome home little Lucas; welcome to our home on Saturday; continue to pray for those whose homes are shattered in Japan and for those here too who have no place to call home. And then come to join in prayer, song and sharing this Sunday in a House of Worship – so it might really become our Home of Faith.