It will be 4 years ago on Monday already. It was my first summer back at home since college started and I was heading off to work. My parents live about an hour from civilization (i.e. the nearest Starbucks where I worked). As I walked out the door, the phone rang and I was annoyed that my dad had told the person calling that I was home. I grabbed the phone and heard probably the most shocking news of my life. One of my closest friends had went home to be with Jesus after a fatal motorcycle accident. I was in complete meltdown and shock mode. All I knew in that moment was that I had to go to work. Against my parents’ wishes, I dashed out the door and into my car. As I drove for the next hour to get to my job, I cried, prayed, and caught my breath again, but life was a complete and total daze. I even had to take a detour to work because the road I took was still closed from his accident. About half way through my drive, I decide to turn on the radio just to have some background noise to my loud thoughts.

I hear the words “welcome home, you! I know you by name. How do you do? I shine because of you today. Come in. Sit down. Tell me how you are. You know it’s good just to see your face…”

I will never forget that moment. It was the very first realization that Nathan was home, sitting down on Jesus’ couch, drinking a cold Dr. Pepper. It brings tears to my eyes. Oh, to be home.