In Transit

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. Luke 4:31-37

We drove from home with a loaded car on Wednesday to overnight with our daughter, son-in-law and grand daughter so that we could fly out yesterday to our new home in Sitka. We are as far as Seattle, overnighting here. so that we can make the final journey today. We are like people possessed, trying to fit all our needs in our luggage, trying to find our way in unfamiliar places, and full hope and heartache for all we've left behind. Being neither here nor there but in transit,can make us anxious and frustrated, forgetting God's promises and commitment to us all.

Jesus heals a man of his demons and the people gathered around finally realize that the prophet they have dismissed is truly powerful and full of God's spirit. They have ignored and denied him for so long, acting like he was a stranger and an unwanted traveler, even in his home land. Now, God's power is seen and realized among them and they are curious and anxious to draw near.

Today, as we make the final flight of our journey to our new home, I ask God to help us hold fast to the powerful love we have been given. May peace and joy surrounds us all as we go through unfamiliar and confusing time, trusting that God walks with us and has gone this way before. We are not strangers or outcasts in the city of God, no matter where we find ourselves today.