Little Altars at Home
Happy Mother's Day!
The greatest gift this year will be heading back to church on Sunday after seven weeks at home. (Just so you know, I also asked for AirPods. I'm all about the spiritual stuff, but I also want to run wirelessly).
There have been lessons learned and blessings gained doing "church at home." I hear many of you talking about your family taking on new spiritual practices both as a necessity and a desire to redeem some of the newly found free time. Those are things that don't have to disappear when the world returns to "normal."
"The home is a kingdom of its own in the midst of the world, a stronghold amid life's storms and stresses, a refuge, even a sanctuary."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
While the world re-opens, there will be plenty more storms and stresses. One thing we've learned beyond a shadow of a doubt: we are not in control. But the One who is remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will not let you fall: "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you... when you pass through the fire, you will not be burned" (Isaiah 43:2).
As we return to church in the weeks ahead, don't let the "domestic church"* you've created during quarantine die. Keep building on the firm foundation you've laid down:
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock" (Matthew 7:25).
*The Catholic Church teaches that the family is the "domestic church," responsible for discipling children in the ways of the faith. You can read more about such practices in my book Faith@Home.