I head to Texas as often as time, money, and wife allow (Ellen tends to be more obliging than the other two). Before I go, I let brothers, sisters, father, and Texas friends know when I’m coming down and where I plan on being during my visit.

I offer this information for two simple reasons. I want to see everybody. But I can’t go everywhere. People are scattered from the Valley (why this is called the Valley I have no idea—if you’ve been there it’s flatter than a flounder) to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In my travels, I try to make gathering convenient for my friends and family. Last visit, as I shared in my previous post, a weekend at the beach house provided both a time and a place for my siblings, father, and me to gather.

During the Memorial weekend, I thought about my friends and family members, both those in this world and those in the world beyond. They marched through my mind and their passing left the imprints of their personalities.

They remain scattered and distant.

Some…

In Texas,

Georgia,

Pennsylvania,

New York,

Florida,

Russia,

Germany.

In lots of states

And lots of countries.

On earth,

And in heaven.

They are scattered to the winds.

Which made me think of a time and a place where scattered becomes united.

A place where all the pieces come together.

HOME!

Let me offer three observations based on my travels to Texas.

1)      A Person brings people together. When I return home, I draw people to me. Not that I’m all that great. It’s just that family and friends love me and want to be with me. So they come to where I am. The ONE is the eternal Person who draws us together.

2)      A Place offers the destination for reunion. When I contacted my high school buddies (many of whom I hadn’t seen since our graduation in 1973—man, do we look like a bunch of middle-aged grandparents—well, I’m not a grandparent but…), we circled a date on the calendar and met at La Hacienda for supper. Great place, great time, great reunion. HOME is the eternal La Hacienda of reunion.

3)      A Path leads to the Person and the Place. Many paths lead home? Not really. Go a lot south and some west. If I’m going home to Texas, I have to head in those general directions. My path choices are limited by my intended destination. Choose the wrong path and, without a course correction, I never arrive. My Elder Brother made the outlandish claim to be the Way HOME. Others may lead us into a greater self-awareness, enlightenment, success, or whatever. Only Jesus leads us HOME.

Question: Where have scattered ones gathered in your life?