A Sort Of Homecoming

I retell here a simple story that moves me and bears repeating.

It involves a man named Henry Morrison who returned to the states back in the early 1900s after having served for more than 40 years as a missionary in Africa.

Henry and his wife were greatly encouraged as their ship approached American soil, because they saw that a great and cheering crowd had gathered at the dock to welcome them home.

Or so they thought.

After the boat docked, the Morrisons soon realized that the crowd of people were there to greet not the missionaries but rather President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from a 3-week African hunting safari.

The missionaries found their way off the boat alone and hailed a cab to take them to the one-bedroom apartment waiting for them. Not a soul had been there to welcome these faithful missionaries home.

This greatly troubled Henry for a number of days, and at his wife's urging he eventually retired to their bedroom and poured out his soul in prayer to the Lord about the matter.

He returned from the room a bit later with peace restored to his face. His wife asked him what had happened, and this was his reply.

"The Lord settled it for me. I told Him how bitter I was that the President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one even met us as we returned home. When I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But Henry, you are not home yet!'"

A sustaining peace awaits us if we accept this reminder.

Lord, I'm tired. This life has worn me out. When will it all make sense?

You are not home yet!

Lord, I feel rejected. Does anybody really love me?

You are not home yet!

Lord, I don't understand. Why did you let it happen? Why?

You are not home yet!

I let these words roll around in my mouth like fine wine.

You are not home yet!

When we finally do arrive... when we can truly say we are home...

We will indeed discover that the fight was worth it.

That we are and always have been loved.

And all our questions will be put to rest.