Where Is My Home?
Posted by Daniel on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 · 3 Comments
Probably, if somebody asked us “Where is your home?” most of us would reply giving our address, especially if you have never left your town or your country. But also, all of us are very conscious that ‘house’ and ‘home’ is not exactly the same thing. They have some similarities but they don’t match 100%. I have thought about that question, after more than a year out of my country and the answer is a bit more complicated.
La Vecilla - Leon - Spain
I know people who are very tied to their land. They value very much their country or region. They usually talk about their town or their country. Some cultures and religions also link their welfare or well practice to a certain place.
On the other hand, there are people that have a tendency to always leave their house. These people like to travel and to move, and very easily they ‘feel at home’ in a foreign land. As they say: “Your home is where you hang your hat”. These are the extremes, but I’m sure we all identify with them to a certain degree. In my case I have to say that I’m in the middle of them.
I recognize that sometimes I miss my country, my culture, my town, but when I deepen in this feeling of nostalgia, I realize that what I miss the most is not a physical place or a certain environment. Above all I miss persons and to be with them, independently where they are. Especially I miss them when I feel sick, or frustrated, or sad for any reason. For me, ‘home’ is being with my family and friends rather than a physical place or building. ‘Home’ is this place where I feel safe, where I can be myself and nobody judges me; this place of total confidence.
Now, after one year in the Philippines, I have some friends here and I ‘feel at home’ being with them as well. And I’m pretty sure that, when I will be back in Spain, I will miss my Filipino friends, because they made me feel at home in a foreign land.
So all of us are different and each one is free to place his/her home anywhere, but, for me, this way of understanding my home makes it easier for me to follow Jesus’ request: “Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples” (Lk.14:27). Because my home is not attached to a physical place but to some special persons and I can meet them or keep in touch anytime, anywhere.
But this is about me. What about you? Where is your home?
First of all Congratulations Daniel & to all who have been called to profession. Fr. Joaquin Fernandez told us a few days ago at the gathering of the English region. Fr. Gerard and I in this house and the Marists of England will be praying for you all.
Your reflection on ‘home’ reminded me of taking Holy Communion to one of our parishioners who has probably only a few months to live. She discovered that she has inoperable cancer just before Christmas. When I read the passage from John 14:23 ‘… and we shall come and make our home with her / him’, she was touched by that thought. It clearly made a deep impression on her. The different notions of ‘home’ that your reflection highlighted, and the fact of it not being just a physical place, ‘click’ for me the realisation that God makes a home – his home – in us.
Really impressed with the web-site. Pass on my regards to all those who designed and run it. Our parish site was set up by one of the parishioners We’ll have to learn how to encourage people to react and speak their minds.
Best Wishes – in Christ,
John O’Gara sm
Thank you very much John for your sharing. Certainly the situation of your parishioner has to be very difficult and she has to feel “out of her home”. I am very touched by her situation. I will pray for her and also for you.
Hope we’ll meet again soon. God bless you. Daniel
“Where is my home?”
It is always a question that unconsciosly creeps into our mind when we are at a point of change or a deeper experience.
I would say home is where i grew up but i left “home” in search of something that my heart is longing for.But the funny thing is i didn’t find it out there,i have to come back home to hear what God is calling me to be.He was showing me that “Home” is where my heart is at that time and it is also there that He directed me.He was showing me the importance of making the place i am staying in to be”HOME’.
I am back in my home country after my formation years and i am still settling in and yes i have called The Philippines my home since alot has happen there.
If we let God dwells in us,we are making a home for Him in our lives and in a sense people we come in contact with will feel at home in our presence.
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A ll the best for the coming Proffession Daniel,
Titilia Tupou.