It's Hard to Be Home!

Steady - What a Great Guy!I was riding back in the crew cab of Ron's dual-axle monster truck listening to Keith Green (remember him) on the iPod and looking at pictures of the kids.  It was about 7 o'clock in the evening and the week of well drilling was over.  I was moved by the hundreds of pictures of the kids on the iPod and couldn't wait to see them both.

However, there is a part of me that missed playing "Turkey Doodle" or spades until late in the night last night.  There is a part of me that missed the fellowship of people focused on Christ doing three devotions a day.  It is kind of like coming home from an evangelistic summer camp.  I missed the "roughing it" of stepping into the cold, morning rain to use the Jiffie Johnnie (did I just write that?!?!).  I missed the laughing, the openness and the team.  It is great to go on mission trips.  It is great to live with the Body.  It is great to grow together.  It is great!

Does my regular life stink?  Is it devoid of devotion, dedication, teamwork and focus on Christ?  Nope.  However, there are ball games, TV's, meetings, business and busyness.  There is a routine that can lull you into mediocrity or taking it all for granted.  It is easier to be selfish at home.  It is easier to not be challenged by living in close quarters with new people and doing new things.

For those who know me and the wonderful ministry I serve with, you are thinking, "We are challenged, pushed and work for the King everyday."  It is just different for some reason when you are off on a trip or project.  I can explain it but I can't explain it.  It is different but it shouldn't be.  Every morning we should get up willing to happily use a Jiffy Johnnie and be looking forward to doing what we could only do with Christ.  Our focus should be making the team better and keeping our feelings and selfishnesses submitted to Christ.  We should be focused on being the best we can be so that the team can be excellent.  We should be concerned about integrity and serving one another.  We should be trying to win the world for Christ one person at a time.  We should be laughing together and seeing the best in each other.  We should be focused on finding how each others weaknesses can become strengths.

Interestingly, even if a few of us can find such focus - others find themselves lulled by the business and busyness of the daily routing.  I wonder what it would be like if we were all on missions every single minute of every single day?  Boy, it is hard to be home even though it is great to be home.  Does  that make any sense?