“My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

Homecoming Dance

I was never much one for school dances in high school. My family didn’t have money for the beautiful gowns and dresses the girls wore, and besides, my boyfriends were always just a year or two past graduation, which meant, according to school rules, they could not attend a school dance.

Homecoming Day, prior to the dance, was such fun that I never cared about missing the dance. We wore school colors, had pep rallies in the quad, yelled the school cheers alongside the shouting cheerleaders, and rooted for the school football team as they ran by us in a line, flexing their muscles and sticking out their chests with typical teenaged boy bravado. The football game early in the evening capped the day. We’d yelled and cheered ‘til our voices were hoarse. Win or lose, we’d had fun. School pride had solidified. We were one.

Everything about that day felt celebratory. Big things were coming. Anything was possible. The outlook was bright.

When I was told about the death of a friend recently, I was greatly saddened. I couldn’t believe I wouldn’t see her face again on this earth. Our chats at church had come to an end. Our many experiences together at church Family Camp would never be repeated. Never again would we encourage one another in the faith, or pray for each other, or worship side-by-side, or hug in the restroom after the service. All I could think about were the things I would miss about her. And I felt particularly bad for her grown children and grandchildren with whom she shared life.

But I was brought to my spiritual senses with the words of an email* announcing her passing to those of us who knew her:

“This morning, [our friend] made an abundant and glorious entrance into the kingdom of her God and Savior. She was a faithful sister in the Lord, a co-laborer in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her heart was always to love Jesus and serve others. Well done, good and faithful servant!”

What a homecoming she received that day! My spirits were lifted as a proper perspective took hold of my doom and gloom and shook me awake to God’s ways. She now has more joy than she can hold. She now sees with her eyes all the expanse of the heavenlies which she could only have imagined before. She can see the golden streets, the rainbow around the throne, the place He has prepared for her, and the brightness of His glory. She can now understand what she could only wonder about before. She can see angels and cherubim and all “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Who knows which saints have greeted her even as I write these words? Has she met Paul, and Moses, and Noah? The scene is impossible for me to envision in its fullness.

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance…” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

Beholding the face of Jesus, she attended her Homecoming Dance, dressed in a fine, clean, white linen robe. Her face is wreathed in smiles, and she celebrates. And now my heart celebrates with her!

Jesus, thank You for preparing a place, and wonders beyond imagination, for us. We eagerly await our own homecoming. May we be found faithful on that day! Amen.

*Quoted with permission