Home Again

A blog post from two years ago came across my Facebook memories three days ago, and as I reread the words I had written, I said, “Lord, we’ve seen so much hurt: so much loss. I hope these words aren’t poignant again for a long time.” But I know that my God is sovereign, and He has a plan I will never understand. Today, my community has once again lost one of its own, so I offer these words up once more. I know there is no magical power in them, but this is my heart poured out into words.

“Home” (February 4, 2016)

I usually start my blog posts with a lyrical quote, but today, a song escapes me. 

My hometown is hurting.

My heart is heavy. 

God called another Trojan home. 

I was fortunate enough to grow up in small, close-knit area where everyone knew your name, they knew your parents, and they still recall stories from when you played ball back in high school. It is the kind of place where the faces change, but the last names never do.

It is home. 

It will always be home. 

It is more than a dot on map. It is more than a caution light and a couple of gas stations. It is a community that loves without questioning and gives without expectations. 

My community is hurting. 

Their hearts are heavy. 

God called another Trojan home. 

My small town has seen way too many of her sons and daughters called home at an early age. We have suffered loss. We have grieved, but we press on. We hold each other, we cry, and we give each other the strength to carry on. 

I know God has a plan, and His plan is perfect. We may not understand, but we trust in Him. We cling to His hope, we cling to His promises, we cling to the old rugged cross. 

We are hurting. 

Our hearts are heavy. 

God called another Trojan home. 

I am extremely proud to be a small town kid. Those roots run deep down in my soul. Throughout my life, I have often been given grief about my love and spirit for my high school alma mater. I usually just shrug it off because the naysayers do not understand. Truth be told, the lack of understanding is completely fair. It is fair because even I have a difficult time explaining how truly special of a place East Beauregard and its community really are. 

It is a spirit. It is a love. It is a bond. 

I am proud to be a Trojan. Columbia blue and red links generations together in a manner that cannot be broken. 

My Trojan family is hurting. 

Trojan hearts are hurting. 

God called another Trojan home.