We Are All Living in a Tent

“(1) For we know that is the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, and eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2) Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, (3) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. (4) For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed by life.”

-2 Corinthians 5:1-4

“Home is where the heart is”. We hear it all the time. The phrase is inscribed in blankets, doormats, and picture frames. But what is home? Is there such thing as home? Does society and God think home is the same thing?

I can assure you the answer is no.

What God calls “home” and what society calls “home” are completely different.

I just got “home” in the States yesterday from a month in the Dominican Republic. No, we were not where you lay out on the beach and have servants bring you fruit juice, we were where 6 person families live in a 2 bedroom house that has the same square footage of my bedroom in the states; and that house sits on a mountain. And that mountain is so far from the city that most of those adults have never been down the mountain in their life. Would they call that home? Probably. Is it their home?

Before going back to our “homes” we had debrief, which is basically a series of sessions that focuses on acclimating from life on the field to life back “home”. It helps us recognize how our lives at “home” are just as big missions fields as our lives on the actual field.

And that is just it. “Home” is a mission’s field.

I was talking with one of my teammates about halfway through our month about how life on the field feels like home. She turns to me and goes, “well that is because our home back in the states isn’t really home, it is just where we are residing.” Right then, my perspective shifted.

Home is where God is.

Home is not where my house is, where my family is, where my job, school, or church is. Home is not in a foreign country in a dorm room with 17 other girls. Home is where God is. Home is in heaven.

That is why in the DR, I felt more at home than I did in my home in the States…it is because I took the time to notice God more in the DR than ever before. I had to rely on Him more. I had to trust Him more. I heard His voice, saw His miracles, and witnessed His spirit healing, touching, and breathing.

Now that I am back in the States and at “home” I feel at peace. Sure the transition is not close to being over, and it is going to be difficult. Sure there are going to be millions of moments where I wish I was back in the DR with 17 other sisters in Christ. Sure everyone is asking me, “How does it feel being back home?”

But, am I home?

No I am not. I am not home yet. I’m visiting. My life is just a visitation here on Earth before I get the call to return home.

Knowing that is what brings me peace, comfort, and joy. This isn’t home. I have yet to return home. I have yet to have the golden gates open before me so I can sit at my Father’s feet and sing His praises for allowing me the opportunity to visit so many places on Earth.

Earth is simply my mission’s field.

The verse above even references our “home” on Earth as us living in a tent…(and you can’t get much more mission’s field-like than a tent)…just saying…

Because I am not being called home yet, my work is not done. There is more to do, more to see, more people to meet, and more places to minister to. Sure I am sitting in my comfy bed in my house in the States, but I am not home.

No, I am not home yet. I am just in a tent. I am just here camping out.

Home is where the heart is, and God has my heart. God is my home.

<3 Kailey