I am An Alien

Originally posted by Kevin, February 1, 2006

I am an alien. I have never felt that before. I think it is good for me. My legal status here in The Netherlands is fine. And no, I am not a fleshy headed mutant from the fourth sector (dumb line from Strange Brew). But for the first time in my life I begin to understand the words of the apostles when they write of this world not being our home.

Life has been good to me. I have had my share of mess ups, big and small, and painfully experienced the consequences. But by and large I have really enjoyed my 48 years on this planet. It feels like home. I take an approach to life that says whatever you are up to – have fun. We Christ followers ought to be the most joyful people on the earth. Not that I don’t take life seriously. I just think it ought to be fun. And I have mostly found it to be so.

So when Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11 talk about our being aliens and strangers on this earth, and when preachers have preached about that (or “praught” as my daughter insists), I have nodded agreement like a good seminary graduate knowing that that is a theologically correct concept. But it never really landed. I like it here. Earth suits me fine. I can move about in it quite comfortably. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness can feed my soul more than a month of sermons. Last week I was able to end a conference in France by spending a day up in the alps. You should have heard me whooping it up standing above the clouds gazing at the morning sun painting the snow covered peaks in soft orange. I like my Minnesota house; sliding down the back hill with Kenny in winter; raking the leaves into the woods in spring and fall. I love sitting on my patio around a fire talking with friends past midnight about life and God. Alien-schmaelien.

Then I up and moved to a place where I really don’t belong. People are glad I am here. It is not that they don’t like me. And if there is any foreign language country in which to fit with only English this is it. I know I may feel differently once I make some history here, but this is not my home. I am a stranger. For the first time I can relate to Paul saying (Phil 3:20) that our citizenship is elsewhere.

It’s a good lesson to learn. In my familiar surroundings, which I’ve enjoyed to the max, I am prone to forget that I am primarily a spiritual being with eternity in my heart. Now the longings I feel are to me a beacon, a signal, a reminder for yearnings that run deeper than this dusty earth.

Being an alien isn’t always fun. But it creates a heavenly yearning that those who walked with Jesus 2000 years ago understood well. Jesus, come get us.