One of the things that always strikes me about the comings and goings of Jesus during holy week is that he chooses to keep the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany as a “home base” of sorts. Each day he sets out for Jerusalem and each evening he returns to what I presume to be a guest room in the home of his best friends. Curious, since Jerusalem was clearly the destination for the days of this week. But I think I may know why….

When Tom, Brett, Kelsey and I moved from California to Oregon, we set off on a great adventure, but on the rare occasion we got to come “home” to Hanford, there was no question about where we would stay. We were going to stay at Grandma and Grandpa Warren’s house! (That’s mom and dad to us and Joe and Lois to many of you.) Then when we made the BIG move to Oklahoma, once again we knew when we could get away for a visit, there would be the guest room for Tom and I and the “trundle room” for the kids. No question. Even after returning to California, just a couple of hours up the road in Oakdale, it just meant there would be more occasions to get to stay in “our” rooms, and we did so often.

I loved staying in that house! From the beginning, the “guest” room really did feel like ours, and Brett and Kelsey literally grew up in the “trundle room”, which eventually just came to be called, “the kids’ room”. Everything was comfortable and homey and we loved spending time with Tom’s folks. But it was so much more than that…..it was waking up every morning to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee and knowing my sweet inlaws were waiting in the living room for everyone to finally rouse so we could have the “morning chat”, which Kelsey came to call it. =) It was the feeling of safety and security that happened as soon as you walked through the door. It was knowing that you were absolutely and completely loved. No matter what was going on “out there”, in this home it seemed less scary, less intimidating and somehow more managable.

Jesus was dealing with escalating attempts on his life, while people he trusted began to turn away from him. He faced serious challenges from without and within his own community and he seemed to be taking every opportunity to call “religious folk” to count for their short-sightedness, while at the same time extending love and hope to those who continued to believe. Exhausting stuff! No one but Jesus knew the extent of what the next few days would bring. So, is it any wonder, then, that at the end of these days, he just wants to go….home? Somewhere he is loved, with people who get the inside jokes. Somewhere he can rest. Somewhere that may soften, if for just a bit what’s to come…..

Never underestimate the power of being able to offer the gift of “home”! To allow others the space to feel safe and loved and maybe even forget for just a little bit what’s “out there” is the beautiful gift of friendship. I’m glad Jesus had his friends, even though they couldn’t prevent what lay ahead. They weren’t meant to. Jesus knew that. But he kept going home anyway. ♥

Praying for our hearts in the coming days….God has a way of showing us big things when we have been focused on listening for, oh….36 days! We all have things we’d rather bar the doors to and hide out from, and it’s really ok to take a break from the struggle. Jesus understands! But as we head into the hardest places with Jesus, may we also find courage to keep our faith ahead of our fear and keep listening together, ok?

Thank you for sharing my “home”!

Shellie ♥

No Man Is An Island
Tenth Avenue North