Wanting to come home

Home and Family
Originally uploaded by andebos.

I love talking with friends...their voices and touches are amazing. I read Proverbs 20 the other day and really believe when the writer says "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of deep understanding draws them out." It is so important to have someone who draws out your thoughts and feelings...many times mine are kind of a blur which I slowly understand - but typically I understand them through authentic conversations with loved ones. Yesterday, I talked with one of these good friends. We talked about this desire of doing wild and fun things in our life. This desire to, not escape, but go somewhere new and do something exciting (at least exciting in our eyes) as opposed to just settling down. I have typically been more of a settler down than traveler. But now, there is almost this desire to do something adventurous for a while. But I fear I want this mostly for selfish purposes than for God's purposes. For instance, maybe teaching abroad...who knows. But on the other hand I don't know that I really want this...in the end, I know I want and belong here raising children who love and honor God...along with working with a wife to help others. Again, this idea of desires and sacrifice. But, through talking last night, I have realized that what I really want is community. This idea of adventure is really just a desire to find community. In my life what I want more than anything is to live in a place where we are surrounded by a community of believers who encourage, sharpen, annoy, love, play, and forgive one another on a daily basis. People who live real lives...that share theirs with mine and mine with theirs. That sounds like a piece of heaven to me. A place where as cheesy as it sounds you feel like asking, "Is this Heaven?" But I don't know that I want to live in Iowa. I'm getting off subject! Adventure is not what I want...what I want is community. My desire for adventure is this belief that adventure will land me in a place where community will naturally happen...like the growth of nature - but I know community requires effort on my part. So what do I really want - community and love, and a love that will go on small adventures with the assurance of returning to a community of larger love; and this community naturally draws us closer to God...and most importantly, we all work together to bring God's love into other's lives. Thank you my friend for another, as usual, great conversation!