May 2016 Newsletter
Posted on April 28, 2016 by spiritofjoy No comments
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There’s No Place Like Home, Graduates
It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy’s “There’s no place like home” line always makes me cry. The recent delightful production at Sioux Falls Christian was no exception. Dorothy’s heart’s desire is to return to her beloved Kansas and her cherished family and friends.
This spring Spirit of Joy will celebrate our high school graduation milestone. These weeks are filled with lists of accomplishments, soaring hopes, and many congratulations. Graduation is usually paired with the reality of leaving home. If you’re reading this as a “grown-up,” do you remember leaving home? Was it scary? Thrilling? Sad? Joyful? All of the above? Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, did you ever just want to go home? Maybe you still do.
And graduation is just the beginning, isn’t it? Paths vary greatly, but there may be more schooling, internships, jobs, marriage, children, accidents, deaths, divorce, promotions, loss of jobs, loss of health, awards, travels, or spiritual awakenings along the way. And many different places to call home.
In all of life, we are promised that God is with us. Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us and leads us in the easy, bountiful days near the calm waters and in green pastures. God walks with us in the very darkest places. God lifts us up and cares for us – even when our enemies are near. The last verse is my favorite of all:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
Christian singer/songwriter, Sara Grove’s beautiful “Morning by
Morning” reminds us of God’s faithful presence:
“Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him, amazed,
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways.
All I have need of, His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me…”
There IS no place like home. As children of God, claimed and loved, we are always home with our faithful God. Not just when we die. But here. And now. All the days of our lives. What a beautiful promise for our graduates and for all of us.
Katherine Eisele