Going Home

One of my favorite moments in the movie, "Shawshank Redemption," comes as the old con meets with his parole board and tells them what he would tell the younger version of himself.  Those of us who have ben  blessed with a longer life than some could give an ear full to the younger version of ourselves if such a thing were possible.  Of course, life is not about do-overs, it is not about looking over our shoulders, or trying to see if we missed something in the rear view mirror.   

Life is about going forward.  It is that way since the moment of conception.  At that single moment everything starts changing and everything starts moving toward the end.  This is not a pessimistic or fatalistic view of our life.  It simply speaks to how it is as we walk the road from our beginning to what some might declare to be our end.  The truth is we do not walk toward our end.  We walk toward what God has planned for us which means that at some point on the journey it is His intention for us to join Him in a way that we cannot be joined with Him while we are in this physical life.  

The clearest Word we have about this reality comes from the Words of Jesus as He said to His disciples, "In my Father's house are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told  you that I go to prepare a place for you?"  (John 14:2)  I cannot begin to count the number of times I have read these words of truth and assurance to those who mourned at graveyards.  The graveyard never has the last word.  It did not on that Sabbath morning after the crucifixion of Jesus and that great victory still has and always will have prevailing power.  One day we are going Home.