Homesickness

I've got a fierce case of homesickness. I mean fierce! My heart literally aches, my body shakes, I cry without warning and I won't go into the specifics of other bodily symptoms. I miss my family, my friends, my neighborhood-- and a million other familiar things.

It's not that it's terrible here in the west valley of Arizona-- in fact, it's very beautiful. And it's warm! And there are even people here that I enjoy; people who missed me while I was away in PA over the past week. But it's just not home.

This miserable ache in my gut got me thinking about the fact that Jesus left is perfect home to come to live among people who hated him and wanted to kill him from moment one. My mind cannot compehend the love that motivated him to leave his Father's side, to come to this foreign place, to live among such unpleasant creatures, to give and give and give-- and then give the ultimate gift of his own life. He must've missed the perfection of heaven and the company of the Father and the Spirit, but love drove him. He didn't look back-- he only looked forward and I am so thankful.