Memories of days gone by: Going Home

I took a trip to my hometown yesterday to attend a celebration of life for someone dear. Our closest neighbor from the homestead where we grew up on the North Fork. Thank you, Harold Engebretsen and wife Edith,  for all the investment you poured into the lives of my parents and into our family. The Lord planted us right beside you because He knew we needed you!

During my 4.5 hour drive, I played and replayed a new CD from Carrie Underwood I had bought. She was singing all the old hymns I grew up with. I was quite surprised that I remembered at least 98% of the words and I haven't sung them for over 21 years. When we left Alaska in 1999 we attended churches that did not sing hymns, but the new traditional choruses. That's a whole other blog...but for now, I loved singing at the top of my lungs as I jetted down the highway in my trusty Subaru. 

Singing the hymns brought out so many emotions and memories. Remembering the days of Christian Community Church and all my years there. I could hear Pastor Ray belting out the songs and sometimes messing up the words, which only endeared us more to him. I could see Galen Gordon leading worship and later on Ken Fisher leading us.

I was remembering Sunday nights and the personal testimonies that many shared. The realness and rawness of people's hearts were seen and we all gathered around and cared. 

I was remembering the times that the Holy Spirit stirred within my heart and I found myself at the altar weeping before the Lord. I remember Marcy Gordon singing a solo and it wasn't even an altar call at the end of the service and yet, I found myself getting out of my seat and walking forward and knelt at the altar and poured my heart out before the Lord. 

Singing these hymns stirred such a longing in my heart to find myself again at the altar before the Lord. I have been back many times since I moved away 21 years ago but this time it was different. This time, there was a longing within my heart to find Him again, hear His voice and weep before the altar. 

There really is something about going home.