Home-words

"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

- Matthew 8:20

There's just something about the comfort of home, of a home that feels made for us.

And when a pastor asked to us ponder the question, "What breaks your heart?"

My first thought: Those without homes, or those who may not know the comfort of a home.

Those without homes in which to dwell and grow,

Those without homes in which to relax and restore,

Those without homes in which to find safety and security,

Those without homes offering nourishment and nurture.

And...

Those who may not feel at home in the miraculous mobile-home of their own bodies.

Our bodies, our homes...

Carriers of our souls and connectors to the world around us;

Collectors of our past and present, and contain-ers of our dreams and the uncontainable Spirit.

We are created and creative, Yes -

and yet our views and words about our body-homes need more creativity, more than a makeover.

We need new Home-words.

“you are a soul. a world. a portal. a spirit. you are never alone.

you are organs and blood and flesh and muscle.

a colony of miracles weaving into each other.”

― Rupi Kaur, Home Body

New Home-words for our bodies are possible.

New Home-words for the body can develop with attention, acknowledgement and appreciation.

Attention can re-word "BMI" to the home-words of Body Miracle Index.

Can we attend, like the toddler, in full fascination while he examines his miraculous hand?

Can we give attention, like a child in a high-chair, delighting in the tastes of foods with "Mmmm-mmm!" ?

Will we take a moment to name the multiple, miraculous hues found within our own body's skin, eyes or hair?

Acknowledgement can re-word the focus on physical growth and measures

to the home-words of the development of body, mind, spirit and soul.

What about acknowledging our own trends toward gentleness, or generosity?

Are we increasingly nourishing ourselves and others with kindness?

Is our compassion heightened, or is our vision improving for the needs of those around us?

Appreciation can re-word body "ideal" while realizing that idealizing is idolizing,

and that home-words appreciate our bodies as gifts given by a Perfect Love.

Do we appreciate that ideally, our bodies and lives would become a reflection of this Love?

Attention, Acknowledgement and Appreciation can start modifying our home-words.

Yet there's another to consider.

The followers of Jesus recorded His own words, His very words to those expressing interest in following Him:

"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

- Matthew 8:20

Frankly, it's uncomfortable, this commentary on comfort.

These words seem to offer a distinct detachment to the goals of home-comfort,

to the idea of home-permanence, whether structural or physical.

These words of our home-less yet Home-bound Teacher seem to indicate

that true and lasting comfort cannot and will not be found in our homes.

Our final home-words center around Acceptance.

Accepting the Teacher's home-words means accepting a new view of "home."

Can we can practice accepting that our temporary homes (structures and bodies) are offerings of love?

Can we imitate the sheltering Presence of acceptance and belonging?

Shall we accept, practice and remind each other that home is both nowhere and now-here,

both here and beyond?

Perhaps the home-words for the homeward bound can be just that:

"a colony of miracles weaving into each other.”