Homecomings

 Homecomings.
 So sweet. Overwhelming. Full of love and blessing. We try to go "home" each Christmas to see how tall the DeHaans are, if the Ludwig girls are dating yet, to cuddle all the newborn babies. At times it is exhausting, but mostly I'm filled with an incredible gratitude and love for all the amazing family and friends we have in Ontario.
  From the first hug from my younger brother at the airport to the rush of nieces and nephews at Hillside Hobby Farms and the joy of worshipping together at the churches we grew up in, every moment is one to savour. I get choked up during some of these moments; a song in church that is so full of meaning, an enveloping hug of a university friend, a realization that life is moving forward here without me-- but in such good ways-- being able to see glimpses of God's amazing faithfulness through generations.
  The sermon at our Sunday evening candlelight service took us through the Biblical story again from the beginning, from Creation and soon after when humanity's first sin separated us from walking with God in the Garden of Eden. Since that time, God had a plan to bring humanity back to Him again. That is ultimately what the Christmas story is about. It is the story of God fulfilling His promise to Adam, Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Israel, and all the nations of the world to bring us back to Him. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as a baby to bring us back to God and to teach us what His perfect kingdom is like. Christ, in perfect humanity, lived among us. This means He understands the struggles and challenges we face in this world (what a comfort). He was a perfect human, but was sentenced to death. His death bridges the gap that sin created by taking our punishment. Then he rose again from the dead and through Him we will also rise again to live eternally in God's amazing kingdom. This world is not it for those who have faith in Jesus. 
  I can identify with being a wanderer. Feeling uncomfortable and unsettled. It is a good reminder that this is not our final destination. And if I feel overwhelmed by love, blessing, and joy at my Christmas homecoming, I know that the Heavenly Homecoming is going to surpass any expectation I can imagine. I don't think the only thing we will be doing in Heaven is singing, but I do look forward to some "Excelsis Gloria"s and this is how I picture it:
    Bon at the grand piano, Kev and Uncle Wayne VdW on the trumpet, Marcella on the violin with Charles from Whitehorse fiddling alongside. Meanwhile, Colin from Whitehorse and Karina from PEI are on the drums and bongo rocking out with some of my first grade six students from Kibera, Kenya who have rythmn like you've never seen before! My cousin Sarah will be belting out "O Come Oh Come Emmanuel" ("God with us")  with Alicia from Smithville harmonizing as an alto (pumped with me that we'll never ever deal with migraines again!). Emma, Anna, Kristin, and Autumn from PEI will have a quartet outburst of "Hallelujahs" while Alli from Cold Lake, AB runs her fingers up and down the piano or perhaps hangs a masterpiece quilt for all to see. Sienna van der Wier will be there in Opa Moesker's arms and Oma Blom will have a new body that is cancer-free- maybe she'll even go skiing with me through the beauty of the renewed Garden while praising the Lord for all He has made.
   I have no idea what the renewed world is going to be like, but I like to think that all the Christ followers that have touched my life from coast to coast to coast will all be together full of joy, free of pain, and bursting to praise the Lord for all He is and has done. I'm thankful that the emotions that well up within me during these first few days in Ontario can be such a great reminder and even a small taste of the glory, joy, and blessing that are to come at our final and ultimate Homecoming when Christ comes again to reunite us with God and bridge that gap once and for all.

  This is a song that really resonated with me and my prayers this season.


"As with Gladness Men of Old"by William C. Dix, 1837-1898

1. As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led by Thee!

2. As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat!

3. As they offered gifts most rare
At Thy cradle, rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King!

4. Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past.
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5. In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down.
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!


 Merry Christmas to all!
Looking forward to seeing you at our Heavenly Homecoming!