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Longing for Home?


Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise (Psalm 106:47)
          Somehow, writing this blog entry got left until the end of Tuesday, which means laundry night. The Laundromat that we go to isn't bad as such places go, I suppose, but it means dragging laundry somewhere public and sitting around while it washes and dries. Usually, I take my lap top with me so that I can work on something. In fact, the wifi connection is so much better there that I look forward to working on things there. Tonight, Dad decided that I shouldn't take my computer because something might happen to it.  "Honor thy father...." I took a paper notebook, but that meant wasting paper and ink on something that is going to have to be redone. It doesn't help that the TV where we sit was set to a channel that spewed the lowest sort of garbage - I mean comedy - imaginable. All I wanted to do is go home.
        I imagine the Israelites felt about the same, but more so. They had been taken from their homes and forced to live among strange people with strange customs and a foreign language. Everything they loved was somewhere else, and they were under someone else's authority - someone who didn't consider what was in the best interests of the Israelites. They just wanted to go home where they could give thanks to God and praise Him.
         I can't say my reason for wanting to go home was to thank God. As soon as I dumped  the laundry on the bed, I went outside to take the dog for her last walk of the night, and spent most of the walk talking to God about my attitude and demonstrating just how bad it was.
         And then I discovered that my blog entry didn't get done this morning. What did I do? I don't remember. The topic is thankfulness, and, oh yeah, the last blog I posted was at least partly about beginning the day at sunset looking forward  instead of back, and being positive instead of regretful. Oops.
         With all of this, the thought comes to mind that we are much like the Israelites. We are living in a land under the temporary control of forces that do not have our best interests in mind. Oh, they could be thankful where they were, but to properly show their thankfulness, they needed to go to the temple and it didn't exist. We can give thanks where we are, but just imagine what it will be like to walk into heaven to give thanks properly. No garbage on TV to distract us, no timers counting down. No attitudes that need to be adjusted. No time demands. Oh that will be, glory for me.... In the meanwhile, it is time to allow God to work and to guide with regard to the rest of the day - while I sleep and when I wake.
 

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