Our family has looked forward to today for many months. Nelson was scheduled to arrive home after literally traveling to the other side of the globe and back, leading a Youth With a Mission team most of that time.

We practically had to draw straws to determine who would get to make the run to O’Hare Airport to collect him, each of us wanting that quiet car-time to talk with Nelson before rapid-paced group activities and conversations began. Klaus “won”, so he and his girlfriend, BrookeLyn, did the honors.

When Nelson finally walked in the door at 9:00 PM, we were so wound up, we didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so we did both. What joy there is in reuniting with a loved one who’s been gone a long time! When Nelson left, it was still 2009. Now the end of 2010 is coming into view. Much time has passed, all of our lives have continued to move along, and we’ve missed having Nelson sharing in it!

But that’s the fun part of reuniting, catching up on all that’s occurred during the separation. On our end, since Louisa has spent a week organizing a shopping bag full of photographs, we can “show” Nelson what’s happened in his absence. But tonight, over a late casserole dinner, we heard Chapter One of his story, part of which was a description of life in unsafe countries. When the leader of a mission trip thinks it’s important to Google “the five most dangerous countries in the world,” that journey is bound to have some harrowing moments. We were grateful to be sitting across the table from our Nelson.

In thinking about reunions, I’ve often put Nate’s face and voice into those thoughts. But tonight as I considered this phenomenon from God’s point of view, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus. The Father and the Son, mysteriously united from eternity past in a way we cannot fathom, were separated only once: when Jesus left glory to be confined to time and space in a human body on earth.

How difficult was that for both of them? What did they say to each other as Jesus left his Father’s presence to become the babe of Bethlehem? How frustrating was it for them to be limited to conversing only through traditional prayer for 33 years? And there was the all-inclusive, supernatural separation that occurred when Jesus became sin for us on the cross, indescribable anguish for them both!

But… then came their reunion. As joyful as it was for us to put our arms around Nelson today, it couldn’t possibly compare to what must have happened between the Father and the Son when Jesus returned to heaven, his work completed. Surely this reunion was accompanied by the music and worship of every angel and saint in paradise! He was home, and the rejoicing probably filled the universe!

I have a hunch, because we’ve become children of God through Jesus, that we’ll receive an unusual welcome in heaven, too. It will be unmerited and overwhelming, but when we finally get there, we too will be… home.

“I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them’.” (Revelation 21:3)