not home yet

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i meet many faithful christians who, in spite of their faith, are deeply disappointed in how their lives have turned out. sometimes it is simply a matter of how they experience aging, which they take to mean they no longer have a future. but often, due to circumstances or wrongful decisions and actions by others, what they hoped to accomplish in life they did not...much of the distress of these people comes from a failure to realize that their life lies before them...the life that lies endlessly before us in the kingdom of God. 

-dallas willard 

remember when i wrote this post a few weeks ago? to sum up the post for those who didn't read it, i was basically writing complaining about being stuck in a rut. i mentioned how my daily life can feel suffocating and how i'm unsatisfied at times with nothing to look forward to, nothing to anticipate. yikes. how depressing, right? if you didn't read it, be glad you missed the sob fest. 

but, ever since then, i've continued to think about it. why am i waiting for the next big thing and not enjoying the now? why, even when good things are happening, do i still have a longing for something more? why do i feel lonely even when i have the most supportive friends? why? why? why? 

as a christian, the answer should have been more obvious to me. not to get all theological on you, but i have to remind myself that i was not made to be completely fulfilled in this world. i was made to be satisfied with Christ and, until i am in His presence, i will always have longings and desires that won't be met with what the world offers. it's like i have a hole in my heart that nothing else but God can fill. blech, super cheesy. i cringed when i wrote that. but it's true. it's the best explanation for why i still feel unfulfilled even when things are good in my life.

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i believe God created beautiful, wonderful things in this world for us to enjoy. he created us to be relational beings which is why we find great pleasure in friendships and romantic relationships. he instilled in us a sense of adventure which is why we like to take trips and discover new cities and explore nature. he created us to laugh and sing and be joyful with what we have here, but, all that being said, this world is temporary. as much as this world has to offer, i'm not home yet. it's an encouraging truth.

"but there's far more to life for us. 

we're citizens of high heaven! 

we're waiting the arrival of the Savior, 

the Master, Jesus Christ, 

who will transform our earthy bodies 

into glorious bodies like His own. 

He'll make us beautiful and whole 

with the same powerful skill 

by which He is putting everything as it should be, 

under and around Him." 

-philippians 3:20-21