Dear Friends,

The idea of home is as varied as there are people who long for it. My wife is remarkably fortunate in that she knew the same physical home almost her entire life, while my family moved fairly often growing up. Both ways of growing up have their advantages and disadvantages. My siblings and I see excitement along with pain whenever a major change is on the horizon, because moving so often took the fear out of transition. That is nice, but I crave my wife’s sense of place and continuity. She can still go to her parent’s home and see the woods and grounds she explored since was a small child. Her memories are grounded in something she can see, while my memories of DeWitt Michigan might as well be in Narnia.

Since we were married the idea of home started to shift to being about living with the other person, than it did with being in a particular place. In Columbus Georgia, Martinsville Virginia and now here in Alexandria would have crafted a unique sense of home that is a melting pot of the two of us, our dogs and child when each came along, and the world around us. Each time we moved our home, there was always something to look forward to and something to mourn, but our home’s foundation was not based on those things, but on each other. Our idea of home was not a stagnant thing, but something we were constantly working on together. Now we are in the exciting time of building up our home and slowly letting our house, yard and neighborhood become familiar.

Even though the past two Sundays were my first with you in Church, I was struck how much worship felt like home. When we were only broadcasting the 10:00 am service I knew you were worshipping with me at home, but much of the time it felt like Church was something we were just doing with the ten people in the Nave. Praying with you, and hearing your responses these past two Sundays made me realize that we are making our Church a home in the same way that Leandra and I are making a home just down the street. Much of what we are doing feels familiar, but we are still mourning some things we are not able to do. We may have to say goodbye to a few things as we continue to grow together, but I suspect we have more things to look forward to in the coming years. Regardless of when we mourn and when we celebrate, I am thankful that we are not doing this together, because we cannot make St. Luke’s home without you.

Blessings,
Nick