"That your joy may be Full" 1 John 1:4

I was reading in 1 John this morning and could not shake this verse. Also this mornings devotion focused on 2 Samuel 6 when David danced with immense joy before the Lord despite the disapproval of his wife. It made me ask the question, "When is a time in my life when I have felt or witnessed immense joy?"

Recently I traveled with a student to pick up her mother. This student had not seen her mother in person in a few months. As we waited at the airport, the student was very antsy, she was checking the monitor to see when the plane landed. After a time, we were aware the plane had landed so we stepped to the line where the travelers exit the airport. Now let me take a moment to describe the scene at this Santiago airport. The travelers step outside into a cleared path. This path is about 40 feet long and on both sides are family and friends watching. When your family member or friend appears you are able to enter the cleared area and greet them. At one point, we watched a young women come through the doors and start down this long corral. Her mother intercepted her and the women dropped her bags, began to weep and hugging her mother with much joy. As my student continued to watch for her mother, her mother finally came out, she first yelled, "mom" but the mother was not aware her daughter would be at the airport (she thought it was just staff picking her up since her daughter was in school during the time she arrived). When her daughter got to the mother they both began to cry and embrace one another. When the Prodigal son returns home there is immense joy and running and crying. Again when the Lord's arc of the covenant returns to the city, David weeps and dances with immense joy. When my brother surprised me at Josh and I's rehearsal (because I was informed he would not be able to be at the wedding due to his service in the Navy) there was weeping and hugging.

What do all these examples have in common? "HOME" There is something inside of us that desires a "home". Here on earth that place typically is better represented by people and emotions for me than a specific location. I reflect on this as again I find a new place in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic to call "Home". Someone commented about a week or so again how quickly I was able to call this place "Home". This is due especially to the consistency of the Trinity I serve. As I change locations, relationships become more difficult, He is always consistent. I also was recently informed a good friend and grandparent to many of my friends is on his way to see the Lord soon. I can only image the joy that will be witnessed when this man, Bill Hodel, is welcomed to our eternal Home by our gracious, righteous, loving Savior.