'Home stretch'

There is a 'home stretch' for me when I make my way home by bike. From afar, I can see the traffic light, and gauge its timing because I know its patterns. In fact, I make it a personal point to reach it as it nears turning green for me...so that I don't have to stop. This is a stretch of road in which I know I am nearly home, and I know every bump and crack in the route home.

You might imagine it is the last 200 metres home. It's not; it's 2 kilometres. It's a long distance by most people's measures. But it's the 'home stretch' to me - no matter where I'm coming from, I know every thing I experience in that last 2 kilometres represents that I am nearly home. Sometimes, there are even road works or construction works that complicate the route. Rain or shine, I am nearer to the comfort of home with each passing moment.

So it is with the church for me. Whenever I meet my church community, I am experiencing my 'home stretch'. No, I'm not home yet, but everything about it reminds me that no matter how far I've traveled, I'm nearly home. My church community may not be perfect; there may be people who are less than presentable, but like the road works in my home stretch, they are there because Someone is improving the place for our future. Therefore, I will delight in even the moments when I go the equivalent of "Wah piang, what a jarring ride!" with my church community, my 'home stretch'.

When I delight in these, God is glorified, because this is His will. And indeed, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior!" (Habbakuk 3:18)

Postscript: The home stretch reminds me to be thankful to God for a safe ride home, not just this time, but for the past 200 or so times...and counting.