Echo in the House

A strange sound resonated through the house this afternoon when I came in the door. It is a sound that I am vaguely familiar with. It was the sound of...nothing. When the door closed, I realized I was totally and utterly alone. At first, the sense of freedom overwhelmed, as the rush of ideas poured through my brain contemplating the possibilities of what I could do with this freedom. I ran out to the mall to get something to eat, then on impulse I went to see a movie! Not very exciting to many of you who are reading this, but to me...this kind of freedom was something I have not tasted in a long time.

Let me explain. Today, my wife and daughter flew to Seattle to see my sister-in-law for her baby shower. This affords me six days of freedom. Six days without a schedule. Six days without being responsible for my daughter. Six days of restful sleep. Ahhh....six days.

However, as the newness of the freedom has sunk in, so has the feeling of loneliness. I am feeling a little out of sorts without my wife and daughter. The house seems cold, and I feel out of touch with the two people I love most on this planet. Tonight as I talked with my daughter on the phone before she went to sleep she said, "Daddy, I want to come home." I will sleep well with that precious voice ringing in my head.

Sometimes during our sojourn with God, we take an absence without leave. You might be discouraged by a constant struggle you haven’t had victory over, or answers sought have not been found or pain has not been soothed, or yet a multitude of voices screaming that your God is nothing, has been finally heard. For some reason, you decided to take a small step off God’s path. Soon you realize, any step off God’s path...is not God’s path.

Now you stand alone. You may feel a sense of freedom. Cultural norms easily become yours, and you take count of your vast possibilities. Soon you are enveloped within your self sufficiency and you don’t expect to cross paths with God again anytime soon.

However, all seasons end. Strings that He attached to your heart so long ago are still attached, and now that string is pulling. Recognition of the emptiness begins, and now you start to hear the echo in the house. You hear the echo of the door you closed on God so long ago.

When you are ready to return to that relationship, when you are ready to engage with Him again, when you reach the point that you say to Him, "Never leave me again," he’ll respond, "I never did."

Is there an echo in your house? Is there a void in your heart because you have stepped away from God? Are you discouraged in your walk? Are the voices of science and reason confusing and contorting the Truth? Don’t walk away, walk closer.

If your house is empty, and you need someone to talk with, need guidance, study resources or encouragement feel free to contact me I’d be glad to assist you in any way.

Remember, as you get closer to Him, He’ll get closer to you.