Not Home Yet

14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come. 15 With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. 16 Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God Hebrews 13:14-16

Lately, I began reading Mary Beth Chapman's book entitled 'Choosing to See' about her grief journey following the sudden loss of their daughter Maria. Mary Beth is the wife of famed Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Their grief journey began one year later after ours when their adopted daughter went into their son's blind spot and was killed as he was pulling up the driveway of their family's home.

The song I posted here had been written just 10 years before their tragedy and sung at the funeral of their friends daughter when she was killed when a truck T-boned theirs  as the she was driving home. They didn't really know this couple other than they were in a couples bible study group but the experience of walking this journey with this couple prepared them for their personal tragedy just 10 years later. Mary Beth writes in her book that this mom was one of the first people to call her when her daughter Maria died. Often when we experience a tragedy directly or indirectly we want so much for things to return to normal just before that tragedy occurred. We want our friends back just the way they were before the tragic event occurred. We are unable to see the true meaning of this tragedy, nor are we able to see the bigger picture from God's perspective.

 Like Mary Beth and her husband the first people who contacted our family after the sudden loss of our Maria were friends who had experience similar tragedies before we ever did. God uses the painful things in our lives to make us better at helping others with their pain. We are small picture people who have problems with organizing our own little world, but God sees the bigger picture regarding how the tragedies we face fit together. We may not see any purpose in the pain we face, but every day God is reminding us in his holy word and in the words of others that we will survive our pain and our pain will be used for good. Although those words may not be received well at the time they are said we are able to see the bigger picture once the deep fog of grief is lifted. Until it lifts about the most we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep walking toward the goal of recovery. I have included the lyrics from Not home below.



Oh yeahTo all the travelers, pilgrims longing for a homeFrom one who walks with youOn this journey called life's roadIt is a long and winding road

From one who's seen the viewDreamt of staying on the mountains highAnd one who's cried like youWanting so much just to lay down and dieI offer this, we must remember this

We are not home yet, we are not home yetKeep on looking ahead, let your heart not forgetWe are not home yet, not home yet, not home yet

So close your eyes with meAnd hear the Father saying, " Welcome home"Let us find the strength in all His promises to carry onHe said, "I'll go prepare a place for you"

So let us not forgetWe are not home yet, we are not home yetKeep on looking ahead, let your heart not forgetWe are not home yet, we are not home yetKeep on looking ahead, let your heart not forgetWe are not home yet, no, no



Read more: STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN - NOT HOME YET LYRICS