Spiritually Homeless

Home is where the heart is. At least, that's what they say. But what does that mean?

Some people may think it means home is where your affections are. But there's a difference between treasuring something or someone in your heart, and having your home there. Home is a sanctuary, a sacred space where you feel safe. You're able to open up and be yourself. You're more capable of allowing people to know you through and through. Home is not merely a place you value, but it's a place you belong. You can value something from a distance without actually investing in it.

Adam and Eve experienced this kind of home/sanctuary in the garden before the fall. They were naked and unashamed. There was nothing to hide.

With sin, it's much more difficult to find a safe place like this. Because of sin, we have so much to hide. So many secrets from God and others. We need clothes to hide our shame.

But there's a place for taking the clothes back off. First and foremost we need to be naked before the Lord. But there's also a desperate need for open/vulnerable relationships with others. We need to find people we can trust, and learn to be ourself around them. There is never risk in being open with God, but you'll find yourself in danger at the prospect of showing others the tender parts of your being. They may hurt you. They probably will.

Some people have lived in fear for years, and mostly because they still aren't right with God. They haven't been able to open up about sin and secrets. They remain with no home, no sanctuary. In a word, these people are homeless...spiritually homeless.

Co-written with Emily Moeser