I Guess I Might Be Homesick

I found this quote by C.S. Lewis a few days ago and it struck a chord on my heartstrings – “The fact that our heart yearns for something earth can’t supply is proof that heaven must be our home.” Maybe it’s the season of the year or the season of my life but I feel homesick a lot these days.

As I was growing up, our home was filled with music played on our “High Fidelity” record player (you know, those big black vinyl things!). My brother and I were not allowed to touch the “Hi-Fi” since it was an expensive piece of furniture in those days. People today would say the style is “mid-century modern”, but we just called it “new”.

My dad liked to listen to Billy Vaughn records featuring the saxophone section of the band and my mom loved a gospel record by four Hollywood actresses / singers known professionally as “The Four Girls”. The record “Make a Joyful Noise” was released in 1958 and had some great upbeat songs with amazing harmonies.

The photo of the record album in this blog is a picture I took just last night when I pulled the 62 year old recording from my collection. One of my favorite songs was “This World is Not My Home”. Mom would sing the harmony part with the record as she cooked and cleaned and I would sing the melody with great enthusiasm. While I grew up singing hymns in church I learned to love gospel music at an early age by listening to this record.

I am homesick for the simple life I find in the memories of my childhood home, but that time is gone forever. My mom passed away when I was in my 30’s. My dad remarried 4 months later and sold the house I knew as “home”. I could never really go home again. I miss the smell of mom’s special apple pie and the aroma of the pot roast we had every Sunday. I miss the ability to just relax when I walk in the door.

Mostly these days I’m homesick for a place I’ve never seen. I’m homesick for heaven. When I arrive I will see Jesus, the one I’ve loved and served for most of my life. There will be the familiar faces of family and friends who have gone before me. I will dine at the “marriage supper of the lamb” and will worship my Lord. I will be home because Jesus has prepared a place for me.

• In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. – John 14:2-3 (NKJV)

• And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” – Rev. 19:6-9

I’ll see you in heaven when God calls us home … our real home!