This week I am attending what is called “The Symposia” at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Symposia offers lectures on biblical and theological topics that are current in Christian circles.
This year as I arrived at the seminary, I couldn’t help but think about the many moves LuJean and I have made since enrolling in the seminary 37 years ago.
Our journey began when the seminary was located in Springfield, Illinois. At the end of my first year, the seminary moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana (where the symposia is being held).
At the end of my second year at the seminary, LuJean and I went to our vicarage assignment in Greenwich, CT.
At the end of vicarage we returned to Ft. Wayne for my final year at the seminary.
Upon graduating from the seminary, we moved to Kenmore, NY for my first call as a pastor. There we rented an apartment for our first year, moving into the new home we had purchased in our second year there.
After living for one year in our new home, I received a call to Lockport, NY where we moved into the church’s parsonage. After about two years in the parsonage, we purchased our own home and moved again.
It wasn’t long after that when I received a call to start a church in Downingtown, PA. So, we moved again. We were in Downingtown for two years when I received the call to start a new church in Rochester, MI. So, we moved again.
We rented a home in Oxford (MI) for one year and then purchased our own home and moved again. When our children went off to college and careers, we moved again – this time to our current home in Oxford.
We have been in this home since 2001. This is the longest we have ever stayed in one place – and there is something nice about it!
Having lived in many houses in many places, I have come to learn that there is something more important than location and structure than make for a comfortable home. A house becomes a home because of the family atmosphere and the blessing of our God.
As I reflect upon the many places we have lived, there has been one constant in all of them. God has been with our family in each and every place where we have lived. I am drawn to the words of 2 Samuel 7:29 which reads: “Now therefore may it please You (God) to bless the house of Your servant.” In the context of this passage the word “house” refers to more than the home, but also to the family who lives there! It is so important to have God in our homes to bring His blessing upon our families.
As the words of an old hymn remind us: “Oh, bless this house whate’er befall, where Jesus Christ is all in all…”
May God bless you and your family in whatever house you choose to make your home.
0 comments:
Post a Comment