Longings

January 12, 2012

Longings

I love the sunshine! There is just something there for me in the rays of warmth. I feel alive and satisfied like our cat that used to stretch out in the thin sliver of yellow laser of light through our front door.  There is a sense of release and contentment with a stretch and the glow of light on my skin. The sunlight creates in me memories of childhood; playing in the sprinkler, fishing in the river, walking down a country road, or lying on the warm sand of the beach scanning the sky for sea birds.  Whenever I’m in the sun I long for home. Well, not so much home, but the feelings I used to have about home. Well, not so much the feelings as the romanticizing of the feelings about the sun of my youth. All I really know is that in the light of the sun I become introspective and connected to something deep within my heart that causes me to long for more of the light. 

I love the Son! There is just something about the warmth of His love that comforts me. I feel alive and satisfied as I stretch my heart out before Him like a cat laid out in the window of His heart. There is a sense of release and contentment in Him. His light is brighter than that dim candle we call the sun. He shines eternally bright pushing back the dark coldness of this world that invades my heart. Whenever I’m in the Son I long for home; not the home of my youth, nor the home I have on this earth, but the home that is built in His light.

In all of us there is a longing for a different place, a different feel, a deeper contentment, a place called home. We are made for this longing. We are hard wired to long to be in the light of God, His warmth and His brightness with all the healing power contained in the rays of His love. This longing drives us to seek Him out as we push our way through the veil of gray that disconnect us from His light.

Looking deep into the eyes of most of those I know I see this longing for home. There is a fear behind their eyes that is often covered by false dimness slightly illuminated by the glitter of this world. The clouds of fear, anger, and bitterness cause them to sprint towards greed, self-protection and deceit. The shivers of cold darkness freeze them in a stance of stoicism with their hearts. There is only the practical of the world to warm them, but it never can. So they are stuck in the shadows of an unfulfilled longing until there is recognition of the need of Jesus to thaw out their hearts. They can love the Son, but it must be a love greater than all loves.  It must be a love for light. It must be a longing for home.

The Son shines His light ever so broadly upon our longings. He illuminates it from His heart. He calls all who long for home to stretch out before the rays of His warmth and feel their longings transform into satisfaction.

I love the Sonshine!  He makes me long for home!  He satisfies me with His warmth!

 

Pastor Brad