One of the greatest things about being part of the geo-physical Asbury community is actually being there. Being in chapel surrounded by hundreds of seminarians literally singing their hearts out; being in class with folks who recognize your face and are genuinely glad to see you at 8:00 on Wednesday mornings (thanks, Micah!); folks who really, really care whether you fulfill that God-given destiny, your vocation.

But it’s hard living in the difference between here and there.

Here I am the mom of two active, intelligent teenagers. Here I am the wife of a loving and nurturing husband. Here I am the daughter, grand-daughter, friend, prayer chairman, choir member, Rotary webmaster, cook, laundress and who decides what we have for dinner and have the dogs, cats and horses been fed?

Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I am happier at this moment than I have ever been. But living in the tension between here, at home and there, on the Wilmore campus at ATS is a daunting exercise. With email and cell phone I can keep up with my family when I am in Wilmore and my classes and friends when I am in Frankfort.

Not long ago, on an early morning drive from Frankfort to Wilmore, God dropped an analogy into my brain. We are all living between here and there.

Here in this reality, we are strangers, “resident aliens” according to Hauerwas and Willimon. We are living in the tension between this world and the world to come. Thinking about that makes it a little easier to be here and to want to be there.

I think the symbolism in this analogy can be unpacked even more. Thoughts?