Well, it wouldn’t be a social media site without a picture of a candle, so perhaps I’m getting this out of the way early. This candle and the first of the leather-bound journals you see in the photo were gifts from Ella when I first embarked on this writing voyage. My ship left the harbor, and I returned a year and half later. Here we are….
I don’t sell candles, but Ella found a “Homesick” Candle company online. Their gig is “scents of home,” if you will. My Kansas candle has a pleasant, spring’ish smell, which, at times was my experience on the High Plains, but just as often, depending on the winds, the smell I remember is cattle feedlot. There’s really nothing like it for purchase online…we can hope.
Even though I anticipate the day I’m able to return to the High Plains, what I’m homesick for is not necessarily a particular place, smell, or time. Rather, as I’ve tried to convey, I yearn for community, family, friendships: fellowship. “But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (NLT, Hebrews 11:16)
As I’m learning now in my suburban existence, fellowship can happen anywhere there are people; city, suburb, or prairie. I can’t help but think that our innate need for human community points to our ultimate yearning, fellowship with God.
