Life As A Single: Coming Home

I hope some of what I write in a series of new posts about living a single life really resonates with those of you out there that in in a similar situation. I also hope that it brings some light to those of you who have for so long been with someone that you have lost touch with the single life and all of it's glories and struggles.

Over the last few days I have spent all my time with a group of high school kids in central Michigan at a retreat center/camp called Spring HIll. It was a good weekend and I pray to God that it challenged my students in a new way that will help them live for God in a way they they have not considered. Between Friday night and Sunday evening I slept little and showered less (none actually). Once I sent off all the kids, I began my short car ride home and immediately noticed the silence. I was alone.

Coming home as a single person is kind of a tricky thing. When I usually walk in the door I am delighted to be greeted by my roommate and whatever slightly annoying and slightly catchy nickname he's created for my arrival. Lately, we've been greeting each other as rrrroommate (with rolling r's) or as brrrrrrommate (same effect). I am always satisfied to come home to someone - anyone who is glad that I'm home and unless the garbage didn't get taken out or the toilet is clogged (which it is right now) this simple and ritualistic greeting is enough to make me feel at home and not alone.

But tonight was a little different. Only because when I arrived at the church office it was filled with moms and dads, brothers and sisters who were awaiting the return of their sons and daughters. Who was awaiting me? nobody. And who was awaiting me when I got home? nobody. Sometimes, I just want to be able to walk in the door and have someone say, "hey, you're finally home. I (we've) missed you so much." When I walked in I was only greeted by the whirring of the heater and the sound of my own unpacking. Is it sad? sometimes. Is it lonely? Yeah, it can be.

It's one of the simple pleasures that maybe you or I take for granted - being welcomed home.

Actually, when I first arrived at the church office one of the students' mother came running up arms wide saying, "Yay, you're home. You can never leave again." Of course she was merely joking b/c she's on the worship team and was referring to the fact that things didn't go so awesome this morning at church. Even though she was joking, that hug felt great. She'll probably never know how much it meant to me.