Well, Monday it was late fall in La Paz, Bolivia.
Tuesday, we were between worlds in an American Airlines flight.
Yesterday, it was summer in Charlotte, and I was enjoying the roads of Rowan County and my friends with whom I taught for six years.
This Sunday, I will be at Church of the Apostles in Hope Mills, NC (part of my tradition in the Anglican Mission in America).
I’m so pumped!
I haven’t had communion since the night before Palm Sunday! Now, we’ll have seven Sundays in a row, worshiping and celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection in various churches in the Carolinas.
Don’t get me wrong: the Body of Christ is alive and well in La Paz. Both the Bolivian and international community are a vibrant part of the Bride of Christ, and she is a bright light in La Paz, shining in the backdrop of spiritual darkness. Between the many congregations from many different traditions, and the unified house-worship of our monthly Community Group meetings, the Church is alive!
But I’m home. And when I go on Sunday, I will appreciate the songs and understand every word of the sermon. I will say the Creed with great joy, probably a little too loudly. I will hold the piece of Bread, dipping it in the Cup of Wine, savoring that special moment in His presence. At the first church I visit, I will get to kneel for Communion; I will linger a bit before rising.
There’s something about being at home with traditions, with knowing the liturgy by heart, with having a real history with the parish, whether as a long-time visitor or a long-time member.
There’s something – after you’ve been away a tad bit too long – about being home.
[Long, satisfied sigh]
June 18, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hope everything went as well as you hoped for on Sunday Tom.
I do agree about being somewhere you have a real history. It’s a special feeling. Good to go elsewhere, but always look forward to going home again.
I’m not sure that I could do what you do, even if health allowed. I need to be within my comfort zone most of the time. But I like to think that if I really thought God was calling me to go somewhere different, that I would go. I do believe, though, that God wants me at Godmanchester for the time being — the Church I’ve been at for the majority of my Church history.
June 18, 2008 at 9:13 am
Actually, it was better than I had imagined; there was a young couple – the wife renewed her baptismal vows and her husband was baptised. A baptismal service is just such a … celebration!
You know, as I read what you wrote, I thought about all the people in the Bible who were exactly God had called them when He saved them: in their home-towns, doing the will of Christ. I think of Priscilla and Aquila, Lydia …
It’s interesting to me, because my wife and I are seeing an emerging picture of where God is calling us next: right back home to help take care of family! “Oh, the places you’ll go!” Sometimes, right back home is right where God wants us! Bless you as you serve Him!