going home

Being a United Methodist PK (This is an abbreviation Promise Keeper’s stole from the Preachers’ Kids. We’re stealing it back.) the idea of “home” is still a vague one to me. I don’t have a house that I grew up in. I have bunch of parsonages (plural) in the former “Louisville Conference” (now a united Kentucky Conference) that I lived in. A parsonage in Masonville (outside of my birthplace, Owensboro), one in Cecelia (Elizabethtown), two in Louisville, one in Shepherdsville (just south of L’ville), two in Bowling Green, and one in Henderson. Almost ten years ago I moved to Nashville. And I have lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere.

I am actually a second generation PK. Other than dorm rooms and apartments during seminary my dad had lived in parsonages his whole life. Two years ago my parents moved from a parsonage in Campbellsville to their first house. Prior to this the only land they had claim to were two cemetery plots next door to my mother’s home church in Radcliff (Stovall UMC). Now they are paying a mortgage on a 3 bedroom/2 bath with a fenced in backyard. In recent months they’ve been busy with home improvements like stripping wallpaper, painting, and getting new flooring. Last week a new sofa & loveseat for the living room were delivered. Soon new roman shades & indoor shutters will be installed. They have a home.

There are times that I grow home-sick for Louisville. But of all the places I lived growing up Bowling Green seems most like home. It’s where I went to high school and where I was in UMYF. And this weekend I’m moving home. There was a long process involving many prayers and conversations over many months and finally God said, “this is good.” I am 32 years old and I’m going to living with my parents. I’m seeking the financial stability that will allow me to buy a house or be ready for the next phase in God’s plan if that doesn’t involve home ownership. I’m excited. I’m nervous. I’m relieved. I’m anticipatory. I’m not looking forward to the one hour drive to Nashville Monday – Friday. But I am looking forward to my daddy’s coffee in the morning. I’m looking forward to time with my parents. There’s cable TV and a washer and dyer! There’s a back yard with dogs and a front porch swing. There’s a magnolia tree in view from my bedroom window. I am blessed and grateful.

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home
Tis summer, the people are gay
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day