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Pitching Tents This earth is not our home by Peggy Lively In the last thirteen years, my husband and I have lived in nine different homes in three different states. The more we've moved, the more I've learned to hold on loosely to the things of this earth. This last move in particular, I identified more with the reality that we are just "aliens and strangers" in this world (1 Peter 2:11). Our "homes" here are temporary dwellings, tents that we pitch along this journey on our way to our permanent, eternal home. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). We'll always be somewhat dissatisfied here on earth, because this is not our proper dwelling place. Society puts so much emphasis on our earthly homes as part of "living the American dream." We all love the "Extreme Home Makeovers" we see on TV. My favorite part about the show is that it usually serves a needy family, those who are financially down and out, or sometimes physically handicapped. The anticipation of the show builds as the family returns and waits for the host of the show to yell, "Move that bus!" in order to reveal their new home. It almost always brings tears to my eyes as they walk through the house seeing their transformed home. Each family member has their own very personalized room, and they are always truly overwhelmed. This makes me wonder what the revealing of my heavenly home will be like. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-2). He is preparing a room for me. I imagine all of us walking with Jesus through our new eternal home as He reveals to each of us our new rooms. Talk about overwhelming! And the best part about it is that it's eternal. We should anticipate with great excitement the revealing of our eternal home. So if you're discouraged today, remember that all of this here is temporary. "Set your mind on things above not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:1). We are all in for a big surprise when we hear Jesus say, "Move that bus."