Beyond Home

Beyond is farther out...farther out than you are now.  Beyond is somewhere seen or unseen.  Do you want to go there?  Do you want to avoid what is beyond?  Do you know what lies beyond life? Would it change how you live if you did?

What stops our view of what is beyond? How do some people forge ahead even when they know beyond is full of pain and suffering? How does the soldier continue up the hill under fire?

Interestingly, beyond is never behind...beyond looks forward.  Moving forward is required to get beyond and once we are there, it is no longer beyond, but a place farther out takes its place.

This year, I chose the word STEP as a concept to ponder. It has caused me to think about any opportunity to advance, move forward, move beyond.  This is good for me, because I am a homebody.  I like to stay where I am comfortable and safe.  In an ocean of ships, I am the dock.  On a farm, I am the barn door.  Staying put, staying home, staying safe.

I admire those who go beyond.  I like to watch them come and go from my safe little place.  And though my steps rarely take me beyond the safe place, I wonder...is that a bad thing?

As a woman covered by the Grace of God, I could go anywhere in this world and ultimately be safe in God's hands.  Beyond this world, according to His Word, I am promised a better place, because my Lord has made it so and has prepared it.

As a woman committed to family, home is a good place to be.  All boats need a port.  And the barn door is a welcome sight to the weary workhorse. Home is a place to rest and gather strength, to nourish and grow strong, to learn and pray and plan.  A home manager is a valuable person, for she enables others to go beyond, knowing they have somewhere to return and rest their weary heads and hearts.

Though it is good to go beyond many things: beyond illness, beyond hardship, beyond addiction, beyond fear, it is beyond me to imagine life without home, faith, country. So I am okay with being a homebody.

I recently read a blog post written by a young woman who has looked far beyond Bangladesh, but has found beauty Two Steps From Home Here's what she said:

                          The Beauty Of Dew On Paddy Crop

I've visited far miles and many countries.

Saw oceans and hills.

But did not see opening my eyes

Just two steps from home

The beauty of a -

Dew drop on a paddy crop.

Photo courtesy of Two Steps From Home

What I find fascinating about this, is that my God has made it possible for this woman and me to go way beyond our homes with our hearts, our thoughts and our photographs to learn, grow, bless, comfort and share.

I am so thankful He has done this.  No, I am BEYOND thankful.

To read more, click on this link: BEYOND.

Love,
Becky